Who knew? From The New York Times: A bookkeeper named Roy Torcaso, who happened to be an atheist, refused to declare that he believed in God in order to serve as a notary public in Maryland. His case went all the way to the Supreme Court, and in 1961 the courtruled unanimously for Mr. Torcaso, saying states could not have a “religious test” for public office. But 53 years later, Maryland and six other states still have articles in their constitutions saying... Read more
Media Bistro reported last week on a media summit featuring ABC News anchor David Muir. Tweets from the event reveal some of the editorial thinking now leading one of America’s premiere newscasts. Evidently it is the viewing public—which this morning is trending stories on Facebook about a man eaten alive by a snake and Bobby Moynihan’s performance as Princess Leia on SNL—which is helping determine news content. Details: In recent weeks, ABC News has launched a social media “newscast” posted to Facebook on weekdays,... Read more
Kathy Schiffer got the scoop: On Sunday, November 30,worshippers at a Mass at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul heard for the first time the hymn that will be played at Pope Francis’ Mass during next year’s World Meeting of Families. “Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom” was co-written by Norbertine Father Andrew Ciferni and Normand Gouin and was selected from 20 entries which were submitted by invitation only. The hymn opens with an allusion to Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, and traces... Read more
From The New York Daily News: The head of the Roman Catholic Church has a fondness for donkey milk. Pope Francis was given two of the animals this week by the Swiss firm Eurolactis, and the Pope waxed a little nostalgic about drinking donkey milk as a baby in his native Argentina. The company’s founder, Pierluigi Orunesu, had a private meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday at the Vatican. He presented the pontiff with Thea and Noah, two donkeys that... Read more
An instant classic, from the wonderful a cappella group Straight No Chaser, joined here by the insanely talented Kristen Bell. I LOL’d. Read more
“The Annunciation” by James Tissot From the vault, my homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in 2007: +++ His name was Charles Sheldon – and he is one of the most influential preachers in American history. Don’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of him. Until I started looking into this, I hadn’t heard of him either. In 1896, Sheldon published a novel called In His Steps, about a small Kansas town that decided to try and live by... Read more
From the AP: A German newspaper is reporting that retired Pope Benedict XVI says he would have liked to be known after his resignation as “Father Benedict” — a title that would have distinguished him more clearly from the current pontiff. The German-born Benedict has been known as Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI since retiring last year. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper reported Sunday that Benedict said during a recent visit he’d have preferred to be addressed as “Padre Benedetto” but... Read more
This just in, from Gerard O’Connell in America magazine: Immediately after his election on 13 March 2013, Pope Francis told himself, “Jorge, do not change, continue being yourself, because to change at your age would be ridiculous.” He revealed this interesting personal detail in a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Elisabetta Piquè, for La Nacion, the main Argentine newspaper, published today, December 7 (cf links below). She is the paper’s correspondent in Italy, my wife, and author of Francis: Life and Revolution (Loyola... Read more
Amazing: In 2012 — after seven years in the NFL –- Jason Brown was let go from the Rams. Though other teams were interested in signing him, he left his career because he felt he had found a higher calling. Brown went on to become a farmer and to help the hungry with the fruits of his labor, CBS reported. “My agent told me, ‘You’re making the biggest mistake of your life,'” Brown told CBS. “And I looked right back at him and I said,... Read more
From CNS: A parishioner walks up to her pastor and says, “I want to give you my kidney.” Pastor smiles and says, “OK.” Don’t expect a punchline. It’s no joke. Fr. Michael Whyte arrived at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in 2007 and has been pastor there since 2008. A type 1 diabetic, he began experiencing extreme tiredness and nausea at about that time, signs of kidney failure as a result of diabetes. Doctors gave him three choices: go on... Read more
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