The “Spirit of Inclusion” at Catholic schools

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

Make of this what you will. But this strikes me as something new on Catholic campuses: explicit and prominently publicized acceptance—or “inclusion”—of young people who are gay. First, this item about the University of Notre Dame popped up: The University of Notre Dame, an icon of American Catholicism, increasingly has been going against that current when it comes to gay athletes. On Thursday (May 8), the school launched a new campaign to reinforce a message of inclusion wrapped in the... Read more

Catholic chaplain at Harvard: Black Mass is “a matter of hatred, an affront to our Catholic sensibilities”

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

Details from Catholic News Agency: Fr. Michael Drea, senior chaplain at the Harvard Catholic Student Association, told CNA on May 8 that he has seen “a huge groundswell from Catholics on campus, as well as alumni” protesting the black mass re-enactment, which the priest characterized as “absolutely ludicrous” and extremely offensive. …Fr. Drea said that he has received an outpouring of support, along with many emails from alumni around the country expressing outrage at the event. One such letter was... Read more

Must-see video: father documents newborn son’s short life

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

The background: When a couple learned their infant son would die soon after he was born, they decided to document his short life in a very special way. Twenty weeks into her pregnancy, Robbyn Blick learned that her unborn son had a fatal genetic abnormality known as Edwards syndrome. Many babies with the syndrome die before birth or very soon after, often within the first month. Robbyn and her husband, Josh, said they never doubted that their son would be... Read more

Researchers report new details on how the “Man of the Shroud” died

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

From Vatican Insider: The Man of the Shroud “underwent an under glenoidal dislocation of the humerus on the right side and lowering of the shoulder, and has a flattened hand and enophthalmos; conditions that have not been described before, despite several studies on the subject. These injuries indicate that the Man suffered a violent blunt trauma to the neck, chest and shoulder from behind, causing neuromuscular damage and lesions of the entire brachial plexus.” This is the conclusion four university... Read more

Church officials alarmed by anti-Christian graffiti in Jerusalem ahead of pope’s visit

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

From Reuters: The Roman Catholic Church in Jerusalem, preparing for a visit by Pope Francis later this month, has expressed alarm over threats to Christians scrawled by suspected Jewish extremists on church property in the Holy Land. In an incident on Monday, “Death to Arabs and Christians and all those who hate Israel” was daubed in Hebrew on an outer column of the Office of the Assembly of Bishops at the Notre Dame Center in East Jerusalem. “The wave of... Read more

Atheists planning TV channel

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

From Religion News Service: Speaking at a gathering of local atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheists in a chemistry lecture hall at Stanford University, David Silverman, president of American Atheists, a national advocacy group for nontheists, announced Tuesday (May 6) that his New Jersey-based organization would launch the first television channel dedicated to atheism in July. “Why are we going to television?” he asked the audience, a mix of about 100 students and people from the local community. “It’s part of... Read more

What a feeling: Sister Cristina performs “Flashdance”

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

And, evidently, she’s now got fans with t-shirts celebrating her partnership with J-Ax. From CNS’s blog: Ursuline Sister Cristina Scuccia nailed it again last night with her rendition of Irene Cara’s “Flashdance…What a feeling.” Viewers of last night’s live show voted for her to continue on to the final rounds on “The Voice of Italy.” Her coach, rap-artist J-Ax, wanted her to do that particular song because, he said, it shows that it’s “a beautiful feeling to believe.” Before she stepped... Read more

Archdiocese of Boston on Black Mass: “Deep sadness and strong opposition”

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

The Anchoress has the scoop: The Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Boston expresses its deep sadness and strong opposition to the plan to stage a “black mass” on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge. For the good of the Catholic faithful and all people, the Church provides clear teaching concerning Satanic worship. This activity separates people from God and the human community, it is contrary to charity and goodness, and it places participants dangerously close to destructive works... Read more

Shift: nearly one-in-four Latinos in U.S. are former Catholics

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

From the Pew Research Center: Most Hispanics in the United States continue to belong to the Roman Catholic Church. But the Catholic share of the Hispanic population is declining, while rising numbers of Hispanics are Protestant or unaffiliated with any religion. Indeed, nearly one-in-four Hispanic adults (24%) are now former Catholics, according to a major, nationwide survey of more than 5,000 Hispanics by the Pew Research Center. Together, these trends suggest that some religious polarization is taking place in the Hispanic community,... Read more

UPDATE: Students WILL be allowed to thank God during graduation speeches

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

Hot on the heels of the story that broke yesterday, a swift reversal: Following the e-mail sent by Dr. Hvastkovs, ECU Provost Dr. Marilyn Sheerer sent an e-mail to chemistry majors who received the initial statement. Dr .Sheerer wrote, “Please disregard Dr. Hvastkovs’s previous email regarding your departmental graduation statement he sent to you on May 1, 2014 at 8:00:59 PM EDT. I have confirmed with the Chair of the Department of Chemistry that students may submit personal statements, up... Read more