Bishop of Albany addresses questions about excommunication, Canon 915 and Governor Cuomo

Last updated on: January 28, 2019 at 3:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com From the Diocese of Albany website, words from Bishop Ed Scharfenberger, who also talked about it in the video interview above: The passage of the so-called Reproductive Health Act continues to raise questions about the status of Catholics who voted or strongly promoted the sinful actions that this Act now authorizes under color of law. Calls for excommunication have risen in order to highlight the grave moral evil the participants have engaged in and... Read more

Pope on plane: ‘My decision is: no optional celibacy’ for priests

Last updated on: January 28, 2019 at 10:09 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CNS: The primary goal of the Vatican’s February summit on clerical sexual abuse and child protection is to help bishops understand the urgency of the crisis, Pope Francis said. During a news conference with journalists Jan. 27 on his flight to Rome from Panama, the pope said the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences have been called to the Feb. 21-24 meeting at the Vatican to be “made aware of the tragedy” of those abused by members of the... Read more

The 100-year-old deacon still serving 8 Masses a week

Last updated on: January 28, 2019 at 5:56 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Patti Armstrong at The National Catholic Register: Woodrow Wilson was president, people drove their Model Ts to see Charlie Chaplin movies, and World War I had just ended when Deacon Lawrence Girard was born on Nov. 21, 1918. Since his birth a century ago, the world has not slowed down, and neither has he — or at least not much for a century-old deacon. Deacon Girard serves eight Masses a week at St. Sebastian Church in Dearborn Heights, Michigan... Read more

Priest to parish: ‘Why we don’t encourage little kids in church’

Last updated on: January 28, 2019 at 8:38 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Father Michael White, pastor of the Church of the Nativity, the parish made famous by the popular book Rebuilt: There is something in Catholic Church culture that insists kids belong in the sanctuary for Mass. I must say I don’t totally understand it, but it is definitely a Catholic thing. Part of the thinking is that sheer exposure to the service imbues them with grace and other good things in some kind of effortless and mindless sort of way.... Read more

Statement from lawyers for Covington student Nick Sandmann: ‘We expect a multitude of civil lawsuits’

Last updated on: January 27, 2019 at 7:13 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This was posted Friday on the website for Hemmer, DeFrank and Wessels. It comes from Nick Sandmann’s attorneys, L. Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry: On January 18, in the span of a few hours, Nick Sandmann’s peaceful attendance with his Covington Catholic classmates at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. was turned into a personal nightmare when Nick became the focus of false and defamatory accusations published and broadcast across the nation and the world. A mob comprised of activists,... Read more

Pro-choice pol denied communion in Ireland

Last updated on: January 27, 2019 at 2:49 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: A Catholic priest reportedly refused to give communion to a pro-choice TD at a recent funeral Mass. According to The Sunday Times, Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy was refused communion because he supported the introduction of legalized abortion services. The report claims that Fr John Hogan, parish priest of Multyfarnham in Co Westmeath, withheld the host from Troy on January 4 during a requiem mass at St Nicholas’s parish church. Troy, who had previously been regarded as ‘anti-choice’, revealed that he voted... Read more

Great moments in journalism: Newsweek gets it completely wrong

Last updated on: January 27, 2019 at 9:14 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Deacon John Placette alerted me to this. (Thanks!) This headline went up last night. It’s still up this morning. People who have been following this story know that the reality is different: the bishop says he was bullied into condemning the students early on, after the original video sparked such an outcry (which the link makes clear). Newsweek: who is your copy editor? Read more

Horror: at least 27 killed in bombing during Mass at cathedral in Philippines

Last updated on: January 27, 2019 at 8:49 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The video above shows the aftermath and offers additional information on the ground. Details: At least 27 people have been killed and more than 70 injured after two bombs were detonated outside a Roman Catholic cathedral on a southern Philippine island. The first bomb went off in or near the Jolo cathedral in the provincial capital during Sunday Mass. A second blast occurred outside the compound as government forces were responding to the attack, security officials said. Police said at least 27... Read more

Who was history’s biggest ‘influencer’?

Last updated on: January 27, 2019 at 8:25 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Holy Father has the answer: Although Mary would not be considered an “influencer,” like many social media personalities, she still became the most influential woman in history by trusting “in the love and promises of God, the only force capable of making all things new,” Pope Francis told young people at the World Youth Day prayer vigil Jan. 26. “Are you willing to be an ‘influencer’ like Mary, who dared to say, ‘Let it be done’?” he asked. “Only... Read more

‘How precious is the family for transmitting the faith’

Last updated on: January 26, 2019 at 4:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

My blog neighbor, Dr. Gregory Popcak — a.k.a., “The Other Greg” at Patheos — alerted me to a wonderful project coming up. He asked me to spread the word. So I’m happy to let you know about it, too: Families are under more pressure than ever today. School, work, social media, drugs, materialism and other issues all challenge each member of the family and make it more difficult to find a spiritual connection. The constraints on time alone make it... Read more