Pew Study: Public Has “Middling Assessment” of Clergy

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

But the clergy are still held in higher esteem than journalists. Details: The perceived contribution of the clergy varies widely across religious groups. White evangelical Protestants are especially positive in their assessments; roughly half (52%) say clergy contribute a lot to society. Hispanic Catholics are less glowing; about three-in-ten (28%) say that clergy contribute a lot to society. As expected, U.S. adults who have no religious affiliation are less likely to see the clergy as contributing to society. A fifth... Read more

I Thought That Name Sounded Familiar…

Last updated on: July 12, 2013 at 5:49 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The other day, I posted the remarkable story of Rev. Thomas Vander Woude,and his passionate plea on Facebook to save an unborn child with Down syndrome. It turns out that one of Fr. Vander Woude’s brothers was born with Down syndrome. That brother nearly died in a horrible accident a few years back. The story of how he was saved by his father—also named Thomas— was the subject of a homily I preached four years ago: His name was... Read more

“This is Why We Need the Cathedral…”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Kate Monaghan in First Things offers some eloquent sentiments about faith, beauty, and the human heart, all tied to the current and ongoing restoration of New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral: The first time I sat inside the cathedral for Mass—long before I worked so closely with St. Patrick’s—I saw a woman with several plastic bags alternating between two pews in the nave. She would climb back and forth, wiggling under the bar separating the pews. She’d pause and stand on the... Read more

So, the Pope Picks Up the Phone and Makes a Call…

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

And John Thavis reports part of a recent conversation he had with Argentine journalist Jorge Milia: Pope Francis spoke endearingly about Pope Benedict, whom he calls “el viejo” — literally, “the old man,” but a term that carries with it affection and respect. “Today I was with el viejo, and we talked a lot. It’s a pleasure for me to exchange ideas with him…. You can’t imagine the humility and wisdom of this man,” the pope told me. “Well, then keep... Read more

Following Pope’s Call, Priest Puts Mercedes Up for Sale

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Any takers? Details: It may be back to a bicycle for a Colombian priest who’s heeding Pope Francis’ call for austerity. The Rev. Hernando Fayid said he’s going to sell his white Mercedes Benz E200 convertible with a black top following the pope’s recent statement that it wounds his heart to see a priest in a luxurious car. Fayid told RCN television Tuesday evening that he got the car as a gift from his four brothers last year, but will... Read more

“A Pope Like None Before”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

That’s the headline accompanying this piece by veteran Vatican-watcher Sandro Magister, who offers his take on the early days of the Franciscan pontificate, and why there is a “benevolence of secular public opinion” toward him: One key element of Francis’s popularity is his personal credibility. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he lived in a modest two-room apartment. He cooked for himself. He got around by bus and metro. He fled from worldly engagements as from the plague. He never wanted... Read more

Catholic Healthcare Group Launches Support Program for Families of LGBT Youth

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Saint Peter’s Healthcare System- a Catholic institution – announced it is conducting a study in cooperation with the Rutgers University School of Social Work to explore ways to help families adjust to the news that their son or daughter is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. As part of the study, the program will provide professional counseling for those families and their young LGBT members at the Saint Peter’s Family Health Center, 123 How Lane, New Brunswick. Known as “New... Read more

One Man Argues Against Restricting Abortion: “Casual Sex Will Become More Difficult to Come By”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Honestly, I thought this was a joke. But it seems he’s serious. This is what Texas pro-choicers are arguing for? Seriously? Snip, from author Ben Sherman: For those of us guys who like girls — you know, like them like them — and want to have relationships with them that may last anywhere from a few minutes to many years, we need to think about how this bill, by curtailing the bodily autonomy and sexual freedom of women, hurts us, too. We... Read more

“This Man Who Had Given Everything He Had to Others Had One Last Lesson to Give…”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

My blog neighbor Tom McDonald has just lost his father after a long illness, and writes powerfully and poignantly of a life lost and lessons learned: He wasn’t suffering, mind you. Hospice does wonders in that regard, and morphine is a beautiful thing. He just was in that shadowy land between life and death. Everyone had gathered, and left. Everyone had said goodbye. We’d had our moments of grace and our lovely farewells. It was down to just my mother... Read more

Hundreds Offer to Adopt Unborn Down Syndrome Baby Days Before Planned Abortion

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A remarkable example of the power of social media: When the Rev. Thomas Vander Woude learned about a young couple planning to abort their unborn baby that had been diagnosed with Down syndrome, the priest reached out and offered a deal: Deliver the child and he would help find an appropriate adoptive family. But he had to act fast. The woman, who has not been identified for her privacy and her protection, was just shy of six months pregnant and lives in... Read more