Philadelphia’s Bishop Daniel Thomas to be new bishop of Toledo—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the press release this morning: The Holy Father, Pope Francis, today named the Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas as the eighth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo in America. Bishop Thomas has been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since his Episcopal Ordination on July 26, 2006. He fills the office left vacant by the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, who was installed as the Archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut in December 2013.... Read more

The horror before our eyes

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

With the recent execution of James Foley still haunting the news, The New York Times today takes up the debate about whether it’s appropriate to show gruesome violence in the media: YouTube removed the video promptly after it was uploaded, but to little avail, as new accounts kept posting new versions. Twitter suspended accounts that were linking to the clip, while individual users were urging others not to share or even look at the footage or images. In their coverage, many news outlets note... Read more

All about Eve: Eve Tushnet talks about being “Gay and Catholic”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Recently, my blog neighbor Eve Tushnet got the Salai Treatment (being interviewed by Sean Salai, S.J.) in America magazine. She has a new book about to launch, “Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith” (Ave Maria Press). It will be published Oct. 20. Snip: You describe this book as a work of “vocational discernment for gay Christians.” Why did you write it? Well, there really wasn’t anything quite like it out there. There are a few good books on personal... Read more

Killers dressed as nuns: a new terror threat?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Nigeria: The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned the general public to be wary of persons of questionable characters who may disguise in Catholic Church Reverend Sisters’ regalia to perpetrate heinous crimes on innocent citizens. According to a release signed by Deputy Director, Public Relations (DSS), Marilyn Ogar, msi, the warning became necessary following the alleged theft of some pieces of Catholic Church Reverend Sisters’ regalia at Sabon Gari, Kano, by unidentified persons, and the possibility of using... Read more

What can you do about cruel comments online?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Some interesting insight into a subject we’ve all encountered at one time or another, via The New York Times: Anyone who has ever been online has witnessed, or been virtually walloped by, a mean comment. “If you’re going to be a blogger, if you’re going to tweet stuff, you better develop a tough skin,” said John Suler, a professor of psychology at Rider University who specializes in what he refers to as cyberpsychology. Some 69 percent of adult social media... Read more

Memorial Mass held for James Foley

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Wall Street Journal: On Sunday, however, hundreds of people descended on Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish with a new, painful focus: to remember James Foley, the U.S. journalist and New Hampshire native who was killed last week by extremists in the Middle East. More than 900 people packed the aisles and pews and gave Mr. Foley’s parents—who worship at the church—a standing ovation after the couple expressed their gratitude for the support. A telegram they received... Read more

Bigger wedding, happier marriage?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

I wonder if this study was funded by a catering company. (And I wonder what the Kardashians would say…) Details: A new report from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia uses a longitudinal survey of recently married American couples to find correlations between spouses’ histories and the quality of their marriage. (“Marriage quality” is based on responses to questions about relationship happiness, thoughts about dissolution, frequency of confiding in each other, and a general question about how well things are going between the... Read more

Who killed James Foley? We may know soon.

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: British intelligence agents believe they have identified ‘jihadi John’ after employing sophisticated voice recognition technology, the British ambassador to the US has revealed. Officers from MI5 and MI6 have been working closely with specialists at the Government’s listening station at GCHQ and are now said to be “very close” to putting a name to the Briton who beheaded American photojournalist James Foley last week… …Intelligence experts on both sides of the Atlantic have spent the past few days poring... Read more

Watch: Bishop Zubik takes the ALS ice bucket challenge

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:52 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Hundreds of people gathered in Duquesne Saturday as Bishop David Zubik joined a Pittsburgh priest living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, in taking the Ice Bucket Challenge. Father Dennis Colamarino, pastor of Christ the Light of the World Parish and Saint Joseph Parish, was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that affects the nerves in the brain and in the spine, 15 months ago. Since his diagnosis, Colamarino has lost the strength in his legs, but his faith remains.... Read more

Ordination update: 1 new deacon for Tyler

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:26 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

That would be the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, where today social media was tweeting and Facebook-ing about the ordination of Hal Williams to the diaconate. Details are scarce right now. But it took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler. The ordaining bishop: Joseph E. Strickland. A few pictures from Facebook are below. I’m digging the braid. Congratulations, brother and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more