After all the pearl-clutching and questions surrounding this video, the Vatican today offered an explanation. Details: The mystery of why Pope Francis repeatedly withdrew his right hand as a long line of people bowed and tried to kiss it this week has been resolved – he did not want to spread germs. “It was a simple question of hygiene,” Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti told reporters on Thursday after he asked the pope directly. Gisotti explained that there were many people... Read more
Details: Yet another kidnapping of a Catholic priest in Nigeria. According to Fides News Agency, Fr. John Bako Shekwolo was kidnapped on March 25 in his home in the village of Ankuwai, in the state of Kaduna, in central – northern Nigeria. The kidnapping was confirmed by the Chancellor, Archdiocese of Kaduna, Reverend Father Daniel J. Kyomm: “We regret to announce that one of our priests, Rev. Fr. John Bako Shekwolo has been kidnapped by unknown persons. As we ask... Read more
This comes from Norwalk, Connecticut, in the Diocese of Bridgeport. According to a post on Twitter, the parishes of a deanery got together to put up this billboard on a thoroughfare near I-95 that gets about 50,000 daily commuters headed to New York City. Want to be a herald of the Gospel? Want to invite people back to Mass this Easter? This is a good way to do it. Read more
Details: The crisis facing the Church today calls Catholic journalists not only to “relentless and fair reporting” but also to spreading the gospel, Archbishop Georg Gänswein said in a Mass said in memory of Mother Angelica. The March 27 Mass at Santa Maria della Pieta in Camposanto dei Teutonici in Vatican City marked the third anniversary of the death of Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, foundress of EWTN Global Catholic Network. EWTN is the publisher of Catholic News Agency.... Read more
From CNA: A former Catholic deacon has charged that the Diocese of Lubbock wrongly named him on its list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors and has filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million. Lubbock resident Jesus Guerrero has filed a lawsuit that rejected claims he had ever been accused of sex abuse or misconduct. The lawsuit described him as “a faithful servant of God in the Catholic Church his entire life,” the news site EverythingLubbock.com reports. The... Read more
This happened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Monday: It didn’t go over well with some people, most notably the state’s first-ever Muslim woman, who was sworn in that day: Movita Johnson-Harrell won her Philadelphia seat in a special election earlier this month. A mother and grandmother, she arrived in Harrisburg with 55 guests, more than half of whom she said were fellow Muslims. But she said her first day in office was marred by an “offensive” invocation before her induction. Invocations... Read more
What a great story: remembrances of a religious sister who died recently at the remarkable age of 105. From The Tampa Bay Times: Fifty-six years after the sixth grade, Sister Helen Lange’s class wanted a little more time with their teacher. So in 2012, for their 50th high school reunion, they asked her to come, too. Sister Helen was thrilled. That night, one after another, the children she guided at Sarasota’s St. Martha Catholic School sat down at the round... Read more
This video has been getting a lot of circulation and attention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55e58LCv79c How is that going over? Not well. From Father Dwight Longenecker: It seems to me there are a couple of issues here. The first is the traditional devotion of the faithful. In some places it is customary for the people to kiss the pope’s ring or the priest’s hands. When I was visiting a parish in California some time ago with a large Philippino congregation I was embarrassed... Read more
It may not be what you think. After reading this essay, Deacon Ken Crawford offers a rejoinder: The 20th century, as the article noted, has seen a pretty significant resurgence. The 20th century had 8 Popes and half of them have been canonized, including the 3 of the last 4 (and that 4th one was only Pope for 33 days). So at some level something has changed. But one wonders if it is really what the article writer, Professor Massimo... Read more
The story from Youngstown, Ohio: The future of the Youngstown Catholic Diocese will likely mean fewer Masses and, possibly, fewer churches because there are fewer Catholics and an even smaller number who regularly attend. Numbers released on Friday show Catholic participation in the diocese is way down — in some cases, nearly 70 percent. “I was surprised when you see the decline over 20 years,” said Pete Schafer, who compiled the numbers showing a steep drop in participation. Since 2000, the number... Read more
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