The Deacon's Bench
Thank you, Patrick Stewart. Cheers. Read more
Thank you, Patrick Stewart. Cheers. Read more
The good folks at the St. Louis Review have been covering the events unfolding in nearby Ferguson, and the current issue of the newspaper offers a superb counterpoint to a lot of the bad press the neighborhood is receiving. If anyone wonders about the value of the Catholic press, take a look at the Review’s coverage. These are the stories nobody else is reporting—and they illustrate, powerfully, what it means to be “Catholic” in word and deed. A sample: Members... Read more
The announcement, from the Diocese of Cleveland: Bishop Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland has announced that production of the print version of the Catholic Universe Bulletin, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Cleveland, will be coming to an end at a yet to be determined date in 2015. According to Bishop Lennon, “After serious and lengthy assessment, I wish to inform you that I will soon begin researching an alternative to our 140 year old Diocesan newspaper, the Catholic... Read more
Atlanta’s diocesan paper, The Georgia Bulletin, this week offers a rare glimpse at the ordination of a deacon for the Melkite Catholic Church: On the day he was to become a deacon, Elie Hanna was led by two deacons to circle the altar three times as he kissed its corners as a sign “his life revolves around the altar of God.” As the spiritual leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the United States presented him with the clothing... Read more
Somehow, this slipped under the radar today: The Obama administration outlined a new compromise Friday aimed at shielding religious business owners and Christian universities and charities from the health law’s contraception-coverage requirements, but a chilly initial response from Roman Catholic bishops suggested the move wouldn’t assuage their concerns. Federal officials laid out fresh rules to create a multistep process in which employers opposed to including birth control in workers’ insurance would state their objections in writing, and the federal government... Read more
My blog neighbor Pia de Solenni takes up that question and offers some very compelling answers: With the beheading of James Foley and the increasing reports of his Catholic faith, the word “martyr” is becoming more popular. Some would caution that we shouldn’t use the word too lightly. I agree. At the same time, I also think martyrdom is more common than we realize. Here are 16 points (5+6+5) and few more for good measure. It’s been happening for... Read more
Far as I know, this is the first time a member of the episcopacy is getting soaked for ALS research. But the money will go to a different charity, in line with Catholic teaching. Details: Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is taking the ice bucket challenge to help find a cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease, but he is giving a cold shoulder to the ALS Association, the usual beneficiary. “We are aware of the ALS Association and... Read more
Not surprising, really: A former teacher fired for being pregnant filed a lawsuit in Butte federal court Thursday against Butte Central Catholic Schools. In the 12-page document, Shaela Evenson contends the district breached its contract with her and discriminated against her because she was pregnant and because she is female. The suit contends the district broke both federal and state laws. As a result of the firing, she has incurred damages including lost wages, benefits and emotional distress. She is... Read more
Someone who was held prisoner with the murdered journalist describes life with ISIS in The New York Daily News: James Foley — brave until the end — was subjected to beatings and psychological torture with mock executions before he was butchered by his Islamic State captors, it was revealed Thursday. “This group, which has a taste for the macabre, made him stand against a wall in a pose as if he had been crucified,” Didier Francois, a French reporter who... Read more
Sadly, this doesn’t really surprise me. Details: I had been on the ground helping Al Jazeera America** cover the protests and unrest in Ferguson, Mo., since this all started last week. After what I saw last night, I will not be returning. The behavior and number of journalists there is so appalling, that I cannot in good conscience continue to be a part of the spectacle. **A clarification edit: I am not a full-time employee of any Al Jazeera branch or network.... Read more
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