I’m sure there are children of deacons and priests who can relate to this, too. From Religion News Service: The day Franklin Graham was born, he received a telegram. “Welcome to this sin-sick world,” the Western Union message said, “and to the challenge you have to walk in your daddy’s footsteps.” It didn’t take long for Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, to realize that being a preacher’s kid would be both a blessing and a burden. “I... Read more
From this morning’s Mass. Details here. A snip from the homily: “When the Church loses courage, the Church enters into a ‘lukewarm’ atmosphere. The lukewarm, lukewarm Christians, without courage … That hurts the Church so much, because this tepid atmosphere draws you inside, and problems arise among us; we no longer have the horizon, or courage to pray towards heaven, or the courage to proclaim the Gospel. We are lukewarm … We have the courage to get involved in our... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: Theologian Father Manfred Hauke said recent comments from a German archbishop appearing to support a particular diaconate for women are confusing to Catholics and others. “Allowing women to be deacons would create great confusion for the faithful,” Fr. Hauke, a professor of patristics and dogmatics at the Theological Faculty of Lugano, told CNA April 30. “You would have to explain to them the difference between male and female deacons,” he pointed out. Female “deacons” would not... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: Theologian Father Manfred Hauke said recent comments from a German archbishop appearing to support a particular diaconate for women are confusing to Catholics and others. “Allowing women to be deacons would create great confusion for the faithful,” Fr. Hauke, a professor of patristics and dogmatics at the Theological Faculty of Lugano, told CNA April 30. “You would have to explain to them the difference between male and female deacons,” he pointed out. Female “deacons” would not... Read more
Frank Weathers has the scoop: The Roman Catholic priest at the center of a public furor enveloping Newark Archbishop John J. Myers has resigned from ministry, a spokesman for the archdiocese said tonight. The Rev. Michael Fugee, who attended youth retreats and heard confessions from minors in defiance of a lifetime ban on such behavior, submitted his request to leave ministry this afternoon, said the spokesman, Jim Goodness. Myers promptly accepted the resignation, Goodness said. Fugee, 52, remains a priest... Read more
Details: Christian conservatives have grown increasingly alarmed in recent weeks over reports and rumors that the Pentagon is considering new policies aimed at discriminating against Christians and disciplining or even court-martialing those who share their faith. But the Department of Defense on Thursday (May 2) sought to debunk that speculation, saying that while aggressive proselytizing is barred, evangelization is still permitted and the rights of all believers – and non-believers – will be protected. “The U.S. Department of Defense has... Read more
Retired Pope Benedict XVI greets Pope Francis at the Vatican May 2. The 86-year-old retired pontiff, who had been staying at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo since retiring Feb. 28, returned to the Vatican to live in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens. (CNS photo/L’Ossevatore Romano via Reuters) Read more
You may remember this story from earlier. Details: A Carnegie Mellon University coed’s semi-nude papal parody in a spring carnival parade was “highly offensive,” university President Jared Cohon said on Wednesday. “We have procedures for a reason: to protect both the university’s interests and those accused of violating our community standards or policies. We will take the time necessary to discharge our responsibility to treat those involved fairly,” Cohon wrote in a campus email. Before Cohon’s statement, Carnegie Mellon’s only... Read more
From Vatican Radio: Pope Francis wrote the comment “O Francis of Assisi, intercede for peace in our hearts” on a website after watching the live webcam the Conventual Franciscans have set up at the tomb of St. Francis. The pope sent the prayer, via a tablet, on the site sanfrancesco.org. The Pope posted the comment after meeting on Thursday morning with the Minister General of the Friars Minor Conventual, Father Marco Tasca, the guardian of the Sacred Convent of... Read more
Change is coming, and the bishop of Providence is talking about it: Dealing with declining numbers of priests and dwindling numbers of parishioners, The Catholic Diocese of Providence is considering some big changes in an attempt to strengthen Diocesan parishes. In an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News, the Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin said the Diocese is adapting to the changing times. “We’re going to have to be creative. We’re going to have to be flexible.” said Bishop Tobin. “The... Read more
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