Jackie Kennedy letters to priest withdrawn from auction

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

An update on a story from last week, via CNS: A Catholic college will no longer auction letters sent by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to an Irish priest. Earlier in May Vincentian-run All Hallows College in Dublin announced that it was selling the correspondence between Kennedy and Vincentian Father Joseph Leonard, a priest who had befriended the former first lady when she visited Dublin in 1950. The letters detailed Kennedy’s struggles with her Catholic faith after the assassination of... Read more

Tasteless. And, yes, cheesy.

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

What kinds of souvenirs can you buy at the new September 11 Memorial Museum—built, if anyone is wondering, on the very site where nearly 3,000 people died? Stuff like this: That, ladies and gentlemen, is a cheese plate. A CHEESE PLATE. For serving cheese. At dinner parties. You’ll note three tiny hearts dot the map, showing (subtly, of course) where the terrorists struck in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. In addition: The shop has more common museum gift shop... Read more

More on blessings from EMHCs—with a helpful solution from Archbishop Chaput

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Various people have written in over the last 24 hours, suggesting that it’s just not practical or pastoral for an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) to turn away someone in the communion line who wants a blessing. Several years ago, Archbishop Charles Chaput offered a solution that I’ve blogged about in the past. I offer it here as one way around this problem. See what you think: “As members of the community move forward to receive holy Communion during Mass,... Read more

Interfaith group criticizes prayer at World War II Memorial

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: An interfaith coalition has again asked the U.S. House of Representatives to reject a prayer plaque at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The proposed plaque, which is under the consideration of a House subcommittee, would feature a prayer spoken by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the radio on D-Day, June 6, 1944. “O Lord, give us Faith,” it reads in part. “Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade.”... Read more

Rocking on: Sister Cristina “Livin’ on a Prayer”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

CNS has the scoop: A religious sister singing a Bon Jovi mega-hit with a British boy band for backup? “Never say never,” Ursuline Sister Cristina Scuccia told her audience last night before she was swept into the semifinals by popular vote. Her coach, Italian rap-star J-Ax (who’s been choosing Sister Cristina’s repertoire since her Blind Audition debut) said he’s really sorry he’s turned her into his personal “jukebox,” making her sing his favorites from his “sulky adolescence.” He said he’s been pushing her... Read more

Can EMHCs give blessings during communion?—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 9, 2015 at 1:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The question came up recently with a deacon candidate, so I thought it would be useful to post some information on the subject. The short answer is: no. For a longer answer, here’s Paul Matenaer from the Diocese of Madison: In 2008, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments received a letter asking precisely this question. The congregation responded in a private reply with five observations on why this practice is not permitted. But first, let me... Read more

Smile: 10 commandments for the digital age

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Telegraph: It might seem far removed from some of its more sombre instructions to the faithful over the centuries. But the Roman Catholic Church has issued advice to its followers on how to use the internet – and given an unlikely stamp of ecclesiastical approval to the use of the humble smiley face. In a new 10 Commandments for the internet age, Catholics are being urged to make use of “digital smiles” in postings on Twitter and Facebook as... Read more

Homily on the suicide of a priest: “Our God is merciful, loving, compassionate and forgiving”

Last updated on: November 24, 2015 at 2:39 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You probably remember this story about the priest from Florida who took his own life. Below, the homily delivered at the priest’s funeral on Monday by Bishop Robert Lynch. There are three things that are for certain in every human life: birth, death and taxes. While we ourselves are responsible for the third, our taxes, our staunchly pro-life teaching has always held and argued that God alone is the author of all human life and God alone is to be the determiner of when life... Read more

More Americans say they’d be willing to vote for an atheist as president

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Atheists are still the most mistrusted group in the U.S., and a godless politician is still the least likely candidate to win votes in a presidential election. But atheist leader Todd Stiefel is celebrating “a lot of hope” in the fine print of a new Pew Research survey on political leanings. True, 53 percent of Americans said they are least likely to choose a candidate who doesn’t believe in God, according to a survey conducted in April. But in 2007, that... Read more

Pope Francis: “If we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us!”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the pope’s audience today, which dealt with gifts of the Holy Spirit—specifically, the gift of knowledge: The gift of knowledge helps us to avoid falling prey to excessive or incorrect attitudes. The first lies in the risk of considering ourselves masters of Creation. Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us,... Read more