Have they found Jesus’ childhood home?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com Maybe. From Huffington Post: A British archaeologist says a first-century dwelling found beneath a convent in Nazareth, Israel, could have been Jesus’ childhood home. Dr. Ken Dark of the University of Reading and the Nazareth Archaeological Project argues that although the evidence can’t prove Jesus grew up in the house, it does suggest it’s possible. According to the Bible, Jesus grew up in Nazareth, before leaving his hometown to wander and perform miracles. Later, he traveled back to... Read more

Who proclaims the Gospel at Mass?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This popped up today over at OSV’s The Catholic Answer: Q. If a deacon is assisting at Mass, should he be the one to read the Gospel, or is it merely a preference of the celebrant? A. Here’s a reply from Father Reginald Martin: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) observes: “The sacred Order of the diaconate has been held in high honor in the Church, even from the time of the Apostles. At Mass the deacon has his own... Read more

New York’s Cardinal Edward Egan dies at 82

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The New York Times: Cardinal Edward M. Egan, a stern defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy who presided over the Archdiocese of New York for nine years in an era of troubled finances, changing demographics and a priesthood of dwindling, aging ranks shaken by sexual-abuse scandals, died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 82. Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said the cause was cardiac arrest. Cardinal Egan’s successor, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, said in a statement that Cardinal... Read more

Pew Research: Pope’s popularity continues to grow in U.S., with 95% favorable rating among Catholics

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Pew: Nearly two years after becoming the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis continues to grow more popular among Americans. Fully nine-in-ten U.S. Catholics now say they have a favorable view of Francis, including nearly six-in-ten who have a “very favorable” view. Francis’ favorability rating among U.S. Catholics is comparable to ratings for Pope John Paul II in the 1980s and ’90s, and has surpassed any favorability rating for Pope Benedict XVI in Pew Research Center surveys. As... Read more

Court rules man cannot sue for burns suffered while praying over hot meal

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From N.J.com: A New Jersey man cannot collect damages for burns he suffered while bowing his head in prayer over a sizzling steak fajita skillet at Applebee’s, a state appeals panel ruled today. In March 2010, Hiram Jimenez visited the restaurant in Burlington County with his brother, Rafael, and ordered a steak fajita, which was brought to him in a sizzling skillet, according to court records. The waitress allegedly did not warn him the dish was hot. After receiving the... Read more

Fr. Rosica: “It was never my intention to sue”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Crux reports: Despite a frenzy in the conservative Catholic blogosphere, a high-profile priest who volunteers as an English-language assistant to the Vatican press office says he’s not planning to take legal action against a Canadian blogger who had criticized him, and considers the matter closed. The Rev. Thomas Rosica, also a Canadian, said Wednesday he never planned to sue the blogger, and also insisted that he’s not a “high-ranking Vatican official” and hence there was never any prospect of the... Read more

Just in time for Lent: Bacon Soda

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Actually, this has been around for a few years but it’s suddenly become The Rage, and I’m sure it must have something to do with the penitential season because—are you sitting down?—this flavored soda does not contain meat. You’re welcome. I was skeptical but someone who dissected the product wrote: At first taste I thought it tasted mostly like molasses, but then I looked at the ingredients and saw no molasses on the label, just a lot of sugar, carbonated... Read more

Curt Schilling stands up for his daughter—and wins

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Tony Rossi has the scoop: Former baseball great Curt Schilling … tweeted a congratulatory message to his daughter for making it onto the Salve Regina University softball team next year. Soon after, the vulgarity about his daughter started. Schilling wrote on his blog: I started to see…tweets with the word rape, bloody underwear and pretty much every other vulgar and defiling word you could likely fathom began to follow. Now let me emphasize again. I was a jock my whole life.... Read more

“The Anchoress” speaks!

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Look who turned up in a Q & A over at America, our own Elizabeth Scalia: What do you do as managing editor? I seek out strong writers who have something to say about the life of faith—in all of its glories and its teeth-gritting difficulties. While some writers lean left or right, they’re all starting out from a rather centrist position that says, “I may sometimes have difficulty with it, but I do trust and try to live with the... Read more

Two brothers, raised Baptist, choose two different faiths as teens

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A fascinating read, from The Wall Street Journal: Many people change faiths, but not like Brad and Chad Jones. Identical twins, the brothers grew up in Elkin, N.C., a small town in the Bible Belt, the only children of devout Baptists. As boys, they attended the First Baptist Church of Elkin, studied Scripture, went to vacation Bible school and sang in the choir, as did many of their cousins, classmates and neighbors. Today, Brad, 43, is a Roman Catholic priest... Read more