The scoop, and text of his remarks today, from Vatican Radio: Pope Francis on Saturday addressed the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Pope Francis said the goal of the Church for its communications efforts is “to understand how to enter into dialogue with the men and women of today in order to appreciate their desires, their doubts and their hopes.” The Holy Father said we must examine if the communications of the Church... Read more
The paper sniffs around for some analysis of the pope’s interview: Francis is challenging the status quo of the Roman Catholic Church so determinedly and so unexpectedly that Vatican watchers are debating whether this is merely a change of tone, as many had thought at first. Some now think the pope may be making a deliberate effort to shake up the Vatican governing hierarchy, known as the Curia, and prepare the ground for a more fundamental shift in the direction... Read more
The cardinal, of course, is part of the “Super 8” group of advisors to Pope Francis who will be convening next month in Assisi. From the cardinal’s blog: For although the Church’s principal activities are the pastoral work of our parishes, Catholic education, social services and health care — which serve millions — people can sometimes have the impression that all the Church’s focus is on moral questions, particularly those concerned with sexuality. There is a danger of reducing Christianity... Read more
They ordained five new deacons for the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana last weekend: Deacon John Etter Deacon Paul Lunsford Deacon Mike Mescall Deacon Jim Rush Deacon Mark Schipper Deacon Bill Reid, the Vocations Coordinator, sent along that happy news along with the short video below, which just made me smile (and blink back a tear or two). Read more about the ordination in the diocesan newspaper. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more
Elizabeth Tenety in the Washington Post offers some anecdotal evidence: increased Mass attendance, larger crowds at papal audiences, more people lined up for confession. And that’s just for starters. Read it all. Read more
“I was asked to give interviews and I always knew the questions in advance. They concerned the ordination of women, contraception, abortion and other such constantly recurring problems. If we let ourselves be drawn into these discussions, the Church is then identified with certain commandments or prohibitions; we give the impression that we are moralists with a few somewhat antiquated convictions, and not even a hint of the true greatness of the faith appears. I therefore consider it essential always... Read more
This story, posted earlier in the week, received tons of attention from around the internet—and the university that employed the teacher now says the charges in the column are untrue. Details from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: An op-ed piece Wednesday in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recounting the death of a longtime Duquesne University adjunct professor fueled online anger nationally over conditions facing low-paid temporary instructors but was criticized by the school as misleading and exploitative. The column involved Margaret Mary Vojtko, 83, who taught... Read more
From NCR: The U.S. Catholic bishop who grabbed headlines when he said he was “disappointed” Pope Francis had not spoken more about abortion now says he is “grateful” to the pope for widening the vision of the church. Providence, R.I., Bishop Thomas Tobin made his newest remarks in a statement Friday, one day after Jesuit publications around the world published an exclusive interview with the pontiff, who said he felt “reprimanded” by some in the church. “Being a Catholic does not mean... Read more
Lisa Hendey just posted this video of a photographer/wedding presider smackdown over at her place. Take a look. A few thoughts. 1. The presider should have set limits at the rehearsal or, at the latest, before the ceremony. 2. The photographer(s) should have cleared their location with the presider. 3. Saying “If you don’t move, I’ll stop the ceremony” seems pointless because he already stopped the ceremony to, you know, threaten to stop the ceremony. 4. Didn’t that little display... Read more
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The Deacon's Bench
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