If bishops want a sense of where things stand these days, consider this: Last weekend, a parishioner shared with me a story that offers a snapshot of what the world now thinks of the Catholic Church. He works for a private, secular day camp on Long Island and was giving a tour to a family. The mother kept peppering him with questions about how the children were supervised. Where did they change? What sort of access did adults have? My... Read more
It’s never too early for a great Christmas ad. This is from the folks at John Lewis in Great Britain, who every year come up with some of the most potent and memorable TV commercials for the holiday season. It’s a two-minute epic called simply “The Boy and the Piano,” and it’s something to see. Watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16&v=mNbSgMEZ_Tw UPDATE: John Lewis on Saturday released this short video about the making of the commercial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cA7RjKcbk8 Read more
Details: Permanent deacons have a unique role in promoting the New Evangelization, according to a chief advisor of Pope Francis. Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay – a member of the pope’s C9 Council of Cardinal Advisors – said it should “be the symbol `par excellence’ of the servant-Christ.” Gracias was the keynote speaker at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the International Permanent Diaconate Center in Stuttgart, Germany on Nov. 1. The restoration of the diaconate as a permanent ministry in... Read more
“Perhaps we must first have the courage to face Jesus in contrition and humility, to dismantle whatever clericalism may exist in our midst, before we can make the decisions that were delayed.” This was posted today on the website for the Diocese of Bridgeport, a reflection by Bishop Frank Caggiano: As the meeting of bishops continues here in Baltimore, much is being discussed about the change of direction the Holy See has asked regarding the proposed action items designed to... Read more
This is superb, from Dan Crenshaw, the former Navy SEAL and soon-to-be Republican representative from Texas. As you may have heard, he was mocked on SNL a couple weeks back, which caused a backlash and led to a very public and really superlative apology by SNL comic Pete Davidson (see below). Now Crenshaw has more to say—and more we need to hear— in op-ed in The Washington Post: Was I really outraged by SNL? Really offended? Or did I just think the comment... Read more
ChurchPOP posted this Monday and it deserves wider circulation: Wow, what a witness! Every First Saturday of the Month, pro-life religious, clergy and laypeople gather on the streets of New York City to be witnesses for the pro-life movement. Some of the religious orders included the Sisters of Life, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. “Witness for Life,” a monthly event held in New York City, gives pro-lifers the opportunity to peacefully and publically pray for an end... Read more
From Canadian Catholic News: Two Catholic deacons from central Alberta take to the airwaves each week, sharing their faith, strength and hope on a radio talk show broadcast from a small station in Maskwacis, a First Nations community south of Edmonton. “Nobody ever talks about the good parts of our faith,” said Deacon Leo Farley, who hosts Deacon’s Corner along with Deacon Rollie Comeau. “I think it’s time people got to know who Catholics really are. We live our faith... Read more
Bishop Martin Holley appeared on EWTN (video above) shortly after he was removed as leader of the Memphis diocese and, among other things, blamed Cardinal Wuerl and racism for his removal. Now, in a remarkable turn, a priest in the diocese who was cited in the interview is disputing that account, accusing EWTN of slander and demanding an apology. From The Daily Memphian: Former Memphis Bishop Martin D. Holley ruined the fellowship in the local Catholic diocese, spoke disrespectfully of... Read more
Details: A photograph of junior prom attendees in Wisconsin smiling while raising their arms in a Nazi salute. A marching band in Georgia spelling out a racial slur. A high schooler in Chicago sending a swastika to his entire school. Episodes of hate and intolerance, whether crimes or simply bad behavior, are on the rise in American schools. Minors 18 years of age and younger were the offenders in 832 reported hate crimes in 2017, an increase of 27 percent from the year prior, according... Read more
CNS has posted this video from a protest yesterday near the USCCB gathering in Baltimore: Details: As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opened a Day of Prayer at the Fall Bishops General Assembly Nov. 12, John McKeon was the first to walk a path along Aliceanna Street outside the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just after 9 a.m. Along with his wife, Karen Greklek, he made the journey from New York to show his concern with a simple poster board sign... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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