Really: Catholic clergy don their heavy black vestments every day, even covering their head with hoods and habits, but nude activist Gypsy Taub claims a pillar of the Catholic faith embraced nakedness, and is planning a naked march to the National Shrine of Saint Francis to make her point. “We will be marching naked in solidarity with the holy man who was such a beacon of inspiration to our people that our city was name after him,” Taub said. “Saint... Read more
A little group of us, representing part of the Patheos Catholic Channel, gathered to lead a panel discussion this afternoon at the Catholic Media Conference in Charlotte. The topic: “Blogging About Faith Without Losing Your Soul.” After the talk, we posed for a class picture. It’s Sister Rose, Your Humble Blogger, Fr. Eric Sundrup, Frank Weathers, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Katrina Fernandez and Kathryn Jean Lopez. God love you all. You were great. Thank you! UPDATE: I’m pleased to report that... Read more
Details: Rita Alderete is single, but she values the idea of marriage being a relationship between one man and one woman. That’s why the young, diminutive pastor of the Kingdom Tabernacle of Worship church in Paterson, New Jersey, stood under overcast skies in hot, humid weather Thursday, preparing to “March for Marriage,” a now-annual rally sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage and other groups. “We’re proclaiming Jesus and offering a choice of changing your life and experiencing what God... Read more
This is different, via CNS: A retired English Catholic bishop will lead an Anglican diocese’s retreat for those to be ordained as deacons. Retired Bishop Brian Noble of Shrewsbury will lead the June 26-28 retreat and preach at the ordination service at the Church of England’s Chester Cathedral June 29. Bishop Noble, an ecumenical canon of Chester Cathedral, will spend time with candidates for the diaconate as they gather for three days of spiritual reflection at the Chester diocesan retreat... Read more
Details: Pope Francis spoke out Friday against legalizing recreational drugs, telling participants at the International Drug Enforcement Conference in Rome that, “Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise.” As public opinion shifts on the use of recreational drugs, two U.S. states have made marijuana use legal and several other states, cities and countries have decriminalized its use or have announced plans to do so. But Francis said such policies are “not only... Read more
No one can say the visit to Charlotte has been dull. This evening’s Mass was celebrated at St. Peter’s Church, a Jesuit parish in downtown Charlotte that happens to be the oldest Catholic church in Charlotte. The mural behind the altar appears to depict Jesus’s appearance to Peter after the Resurrection. And one of the figures in the background appears to be wearing a dalmatic! The celebrant was Bishop Robert Guglielmone, of Charleston, who hails from Rockville Centre —and who... Read more
Details: A 47-percent decline in Catholic marriages in the Archdiocese of San Francisco has prompted the priests and parishioners of St. Thomas More Church to launch “Project Operation I Do,” a Catholic Wedding ceremony including a modest reception for their guests, absolutely free of charge. This year’s free wedding is scheduled for August 16. “Operation I do” is open to all Catholics who are living together in a common or civil law marriage, or to all couples who were never married civilly.... Read more
The great Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, spoke at the Catholic Media Conference this morning. Some of his remarks: The key question for Catholic media professionals is to consider how best we can be present in this emerging digital arena. Pope Francis in his message for this year’s World Communications Day on the theme, “Communication at the Service of an Authentic Culture of Encounter”, recognized the extraordinary potential for good which digital media can... Read more
From The Los Angeles Times: People clapped, gasped and cried when a man pushed Father Joseph Terra into the room full of parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena on Monday. Still in a wheelchair after being wounded last week during a break-in at Mater Misericordiae Mission that left a fellow priest dead, Terra didn’t move much. His hands were heavily bandaged, his eyes were bruised and swollen, and the top of his head was marked by fresh scars and dried... Read more
Maybe a job for The Anchoress? From The Wall Street Journal: Switzerland’s “Katholisches Kirchenblatt,” a Catholic weekly, recently carried an unusual job ad: “Are you an idealistic, religious person who enjoys meeting people?” The ad was placed by the small Alpine city of Solothurn. But Solothurn isn’t looking for a new social worker or priest. It is searching for a hermit. The town’s hermitage, built into the rock face of a striking gorge, has been empty since March, when its... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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