Sister Elizabeth Johnson fires back at bishops, calls investigation wasteful

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details from Religion News Service: A nun who drew U.S. Catholic bishops’ ire with what they consider radical feminist writings fired back Friday (Aug. 15), saying their investigation of women’s orders is wasteful when financial mismanagement and sexual abuses are being covered up. Sister Elizabeth Johnson, a theology professor at Fordham University, accepted the Leadership Conference of Women Religious’ top award and then lambasted bishops for criticism of her book “Quest for the Living God,” saying it appears they’ve never read... Read more

Did you remember to go to Mass today?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A new blogger at Patheos, Tom Zampino, did. (It’s a holy day of obligation! Go!) And what he experienced wasn’t what he expected: I made it. Later than usual. But I was there. I sat there trying to wrap my head around the Assumption of Mary – is this scriptural? Am I in danger of becoming a heretic because my understanding of – okay, my belief in – the Assumption is not yet fully grounded? Others have today written on the... Read more

In South Korea, Pope delivers major speech in English

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Vatican Radio: Many of the English-speaking journalists here at the Press Centre in Seoul were so excited about hearing Pope Francis pronounce his first speech in Korea in their language, they almost forgot to listen to what he said. Nearly all of them awarded him top marks for pronunciation, modulation and tone – which they felt more than befitted the occasion. The occasion, of course, was the first public event on the Pope’s Korean schedule: his meeting with the... Read more

“This pope means business”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the pages of Fortune magazine (!), comes this analysis of Pope Francis, businessman and manager: The spiritual shepherd of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, Pope Francis, 77, has already done more in 18 months to energize the church and burnish its image than anyone has since the heyday of John Paul II in the mid-1980s. What’s far less appreciated is his intense engagement—and astounding success—in overhauling the Vatican’s finances and pushing the adoption of modern practices it had... Read more

What’s wrong with the ALS bucket challenge?—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Catholics who are endorsing this should know where the money is going. Fr. Michael Duffy explains: We’ve all seen it, and many of you have probably done it. Many celebrities, politicians and even priests have done it. There is a great amount of good that comes about from furthering awareness of such a terrible disease. Since July 29th, $5.5 million has been raised for ALS research. The problem that I have the with ALS Ice Bucket challenge is that the... Read more

What about deacons and politics?

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

Some days back, I posted the historic news about the wife of a deacon serving on her state’s Supreme Court. On another forum a couple of deacons noted that, while the news was noteworthy and laudable, it could pose problems for her husband. One wrote: “We had a deacon who moved to another diocese and his wife became a State Representative. The diocese did not let the deacon minister in that diocese until his wife was no longer in office.” That... Read more

Catholic school employs first openly gay high school coach in South Dakota

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Nate Alfson will start practice Thursday as the returning coach of the Dell Rapids St. Mary girls volleyball team, he confirmed Tuesday night. Alfson, who announced he was gay last week on the Outsports.com website, met with St. Mary officials Tuesday afternoon and originally declined to comment on the meeting’s outcome. He told Outsports.com Tuesday night that the meeting with the Catholic school officials “went great.” “We talked about being on the same page as each other and that... Read more

“The government rejects and bans the teachings of ISIS”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Christian Post: The nation with the largest Muslim population in the world has officially banned support for the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which is responsible for mass killings of religious minorities in Iraq that has forced the U.S. government to respond with air strikes. Indonesia, whose citizens comprise over 10 percent of the global Islamic population, recently announced the ISIS ban in response to ISIS recruiting efforts. Coordinating Political, Legal and Security... Read more

Christian film critic says Robin Williams accepted Christ in rehab, but “he was always searching”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Christian Film and Television Commission Chairman Dr. Ted Baehr recently revealed that late comedian Robin Williams accepted Jesus as his personal Savior during one of his rehab stays. Williams committed suicide on Monday, and many friends and fans are still struggling to come to grips with the immense and sudden loss. Dr. Baehr expressed sadness for Williams’ family, and shared a personal moment between himself and the actor in a blog post. As editor-in-chief of conservative Christian publication “Movieguide,” Baehr met Williams on... Read more

The Muslims who are condemning ISIS—UPDATED

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

They are out there—and they are becoming more vocal. From CNEWA’s Rev. Elias Mallon, S.A., Ph.D: Faced with the unrelenting reports about the sufferings of Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria, even Christians who are friendly toward Muslims can be perplexed and ask, “Why aren’t Muslims speaking out against these atrocities?” The answer is: Muslims have been speaking out in the strongest terms, condemning the crimes against humanity committed by ISIS (or, as it is increasingly called, IS)... Read more