Woman says she was denied job because she is Christian—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the CBC in Canada: A Trinity Western University graduate says she was “attacked” over her religion by a Norwegian wilderness tourism company, just for applying for a job. Bethany Paquette claims her application to work in Canada’s North for Amaruk Wilderness Corp. was rejected because she’s Christian. “It did really hurt me and I did feel really attacked on the basis that I’m a Christian,” Paquette said. In her complaint to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, Paquette outlines a series of emails from executives from Amaruk Wilderness Corp.... Read more

From the synod: on communion, divorce, living together and more

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A working translation from this morning’s session: In the first part, the Assembly continued its reflection on the matter of access to the sacrament of the Eucharist for divorced and remarried persons. Firstly, it re-emphasised the indissoluble nature of marriage, without compromise, based on the fact that the sacramental bond is an objective reality, the work of Christ in the Church. Such a value must be defended and cared for through adequate pre-matrimonial catechesis, so that engaged couples are fully... Read more

UPDATE: Kidnapped priest released

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Catholic Herald: A Catholic priest kidnapped by Islamists in Syria has been released, according to the Custody of the Holy Land. Fr Hanna Jallouf, a Syrian, was taken captive in Tuesday by the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra front, along with 20 parishioners. In a statement the Custody of the Holy Land, the head of the Franciscan in the region, said that “Fr Hanna Jallouf has been released this morning.  He is under House Arrest at the Convent of Knayeh... Read more

Who can bless what?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This topic comes up from time to time, and it emerged again this week in an online Q&A: Q. At a family discussion, the following question came up: Can anyone other than a priest or deacon do a Catholic blessing? (Baltimore)A. As your question would suggest, aside from certain blessings reserved to a bishop (e.g., the consecration of the sacramental oils at the chrism Mass during Holy Week), it is a priest who normally imparts a Catholic blessing.Certain blessings also... Read more

From the synod: the witness of a Catholic woman married to a Muslim

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

She’s Mrs. Jeanette Toure, from the Ivory Coast. An excerpt from her remarks: How can a man, a Muslim, and a woman, a Catholic Christian, who for more than 52 years have loved one another, and who continue to love each other still today, be witnesses of the Gospel for their children, for their surroundings, for their friends, for their different religious communities? We wish our witness of life to be the contribution to this topic: 52 years of common life in tolerance,... Read more

Bookies favor pope to win Nobel Peace Prize

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Check this out: Pope Francis is tipped to win this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, according to some of the world’s leading bookmakers. The Argentine pope is currently the 5-2 favorite to win the award, which the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, will announce Friday, according to British bookmaker William Hill. Irish bookmaker Paddy Power also considers him a leading contender. The pontiff’s odds have fallen from 11-4 in a sign of his worldwide popularity. “When the odds get shorter, that’s... Read more

Cupich: an archbishop who knows the price of bread

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The man tapped to be the next archbishop of Chicago sat down for an interview with CNS: Most people’s everyday tasks — grocery shopping, cooking dinner, keeping up with family — are part of what Chicago’s newly named archbishop looks to in seeking balance between his official roles and being a pastor.In an Oct. 6 interview with Catholic News Service, Archbishop Blase J. Cupich said those are the kinds of things he does to try to stay in touch with what... Read more

What’s a synod? Glad you asked.

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Vatican has released an engaging video that answers that question and it’s surprisingly hip. No, really. You probably never expected to see “Vatican”, “engaging” and “hip” in the same sentence, but take a look at this nifty primer on the synod that’s been released by their communications office. Read more

“Prayer is water for a desperate and parched world”

Last updated on: May 15, 2015 at 2:46 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Last weekend, I delivered three talks to the convocation for deacons in the Archdiocese of Seattle. The theme: “Preaching with a Deacon’s Heart.” It was a great weekend, with a wonderful community of deacons and their wives. The convocation took place in Ocean Shores, WA—a couple hours from downtown Seattle, with the Pacific just a short walk away and gulls screeching over the sand dunes. Among other things, I got to meet Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, who stayed overnight and spent... Read more

Cardinal Marx: German bishops back Kasper proposal

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From John Thavis: Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich said a strong majority of German bishops supported Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposal to find a way to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion, and that he intended to raise the issue at the Synod of Bishops. Speaking at the close of the synod’s first day, Cardinal Marx also said it was crucial for the synod’s debate on family issues to be an “open discussion” that extends beyond the synod hall... Read more