After being suspended for sham gay marriage, priest is reinstated

Last updated on: March 22, 2015 at 5:22 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: A Catholic priest suspended for ‘marrying‘ an immigrant to help him stay in the UK has been reinstated. Father Donald Minchew was removed from his position at St Mary’s Catholic Church and as leader of Croydon Ordinariate a year ago after admitting entering into a civil partnership with Pakistani national Mustajab Hussain. In a letter sent to parishioners last week, Monsignor Keith Newton, of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, said he had decided to lift Father Minchew’s suspension... Read more

Martin O’Malley on being Catholic and supporting gay marriage

Last updated on: March 22, 2015 at 10:21 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The possible Democratic candidate made his remarks in an interview with The Des Moines Register. See video. Footnote: The former governor of Maryland conveniently overlooks the Catholic church’s teaching on this particular issue: If it is true that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians. Faced with legislative proposals in favour of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are to... Read more

“Deacon, can I ask your advice about a problem I’m having…?”

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 9:07 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Sure. Have a seat. What’s on your mind? Read more

Must-see video: Francis visits Naples, blood of St. Januarius liquifies

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 7:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

He spoke off-the-cuff—and something extraordinary happened. From Rome Reports: Image from Wikipedia Read more

Pope Francis discards speech, and offers spontaneous thoughts on religious life: “If there’s no joy, people can smell it”

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 6:50 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It happened on his visit today to Naples. From Vatican Radio: He was welcomed by Cardinal Crescenzio Seppe, the Archbishop of Naples and then surrounded by an enthusiastic group of cloistered nuns who had been given special permission to attend the encounter. The spontaneity of the cloistered set the tone for a convivial meeting, so much so, that in what has become a classic move, Pope Francis began saying “I prepared a speech, but speeches are boring” before launching into... Read more

When was the last time you saw a priest do THIS?

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 3:25 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Brainerd Dispatch in Minnesota Zoe the pot-bellied pig, Bilbo the gecko and Lilly the toad were just a few of the animals the Rev. Blake Rozier, associate pastor of Brainerd Lakes Catholic Churches in Brainerd, agreed to kiss Friday at St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School. Students filled the school’s gymnasium, chanting “kiss the animals” as they waited in anticipation for the animals to walk on stage to get a kiss from Rozier. The kissing event was... Read more

Dear Pope Francis: shouldn’t the Vatican say something about this?

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 11:47 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Today, this happened: A bishop is being ordained in southern Chile amid protests by sex-abuse victims who accuse him of covering up crimes of a mentor whom the Vatican has sanctioned for abusing young boys. Pope Francis chose the 58-year-old Rev. Juan Barros as bishop of the southern city of Osorno. Hundreds of churchgoers dressed in the black of mourning were protesting outside Osorno’s cathedral, which is being heavily guarded by riot police. Top leaders of Chile’s Catholic Church were absent, saying... Read more

From evangelical Protestant to Catholic deacon

Last updated on: March 21, 2015 at 9:45 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Salem News in Massachusetts: If the deacon is a different sort of religious figure for the church, then Chuck Hall, 62, is a different sort of deacon. He came of age as an evangelical Protestant. Only slowly did he gravitate toward conversion, drawn by, of all things, the priest abuse scandals. As one damaging headline followed another, he sensed an imbalance in the treatment of the church. Moreover, he saw the Roman church as at the very foundation... Read more

He spent 39 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. What will the state give him in return?

Last updated on: March 20, 2015 at 12:44 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Reuters has the story: An Ohio man freed last year after spending 39 years in jail for a murder he did not commit will receive more than $1 million from the state for his wrongful imprisonment. Ricky Jackson, the longest-held US prisoner to be cleared of a crime, will receive just over $1 million following an order from an Ohio Court of Claims judge on Thursday. “Wow, I didn’t know that,” Mr Jackson told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which said he learnt... Read more

Pope Francis: no crime deserves the death penalty

Last updated on: March 20, 2015 at 10:48 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Vatican Radio: In a lengthy letter written in Spanish and addressed to the president of the International Commission against the death penalty, Pope Francis thanks those who work tirelessly for a universal moratorium, with the goal of abolishing the use of capital punishment in countries right across the globe. Pope Francis makes clear that justice can never be done by killing another human being and he stresses there can be no humane way of carrying out a death sentence.... Read more