Embattled chaplain sparks small vocations boom at George Washington University

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You probably remember the controversy surrounding this chaplain at George Washington University. Here’s something else you should know about him, from the National Catholic Register: Father Greg Shaffer, the Catholic chaplain at George Washington University, learned early that a good pastor can defy the odds and lead the young to embrace a priestly vocation. Growing up in Bethesda, Md., Father Shaffer was inspired by the example of Msgr. Thomas Wells, a charismatic figure in the archdiocese who possessed a deep and... Read more

Peres to pope: “I am expecting you in Jerusalem and not just me, but all the people of Israel.”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Israeli President Shimon Peres officially invited Pope Francis to Israel and left their meeting at the Vatican telling the pope, “I am expecting you in Jerusalem and not just me, but all the people of Israel.” Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters, “The pope would be happy to go to the Holy Land,” although there are no concrete plans for the trip. The Vatican said that during their half-hour private conversation April 30, the pope and the... Read more

New dating site set up to promote abstinence

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

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From HuffPo, which picks up the story from Essence Magazine: If you haven’t noticed by now, waiting is in again. More and more couples are choosing to put sex on hold in favor of finding love and a worthy life partner first. (And, we couldn’t be more proud.) Many of our readers have spoken out about their decisions to press pause on their sex lives and some expressed concern about how difficult dating can be once you’ve made the call. BlackCelibacy.com founder... Read more

Priest collapses, dies while celebrating Mass

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From New Zealand: Hundreds of parishioners watched in shock as a Catholic priest died at the altar during mass, moments after baptising a baby. Napier’s longest-serving priest, Monsignor Timothy Francis Hannigan, 81, collapsed at the altar during communion at St Patrick’s Catholic Church on Sunday. A doctor and nurses in the packed church rushed to help the popular priest when he slumped to the ground about 9.30am, but he died by the altar of the church where he had served... Read more

Former deacon sentenced to jail for stealing from collection plate

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Joseph Thomas Finnigan, the 73-year-old Catholic deacon who admitted stealing $120,000 from Grand Haven collection plates over some five years, will spend the next year of his life in jail and the rest of his life trying to pay back the money. Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing’s words and sentence Monday, April 29, were stern. The jail term – one year with no work release – exceeded the request of the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office for 10 months... Read more

Woman student in art parade dresses like pope—but naked from the waist down—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

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But wait, there’s more: At an annual art school parade [at Carnegie Mellon University], a female student dressed up as the pope, and was naked from the waist down while she passed out condoms. Even more, witnesses say the woman had shaved her pubic hair in the shape of a cross. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has asked CMU to take action. “I think we all know that when we’re growing up we do stupid things but to cross over the line in... Read more

The lesson: capuchins are very touchy

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Good to know for all those who have dealings with Cardinal O’Malley or Archbishop Chaput. Below a video that shows an experiment involving a pair of capuchin monkeys. One is rewarded for a task with a cucumber; the other gets a grape. Watch what happens when the Cucumber Capuchin realizes what’s going on. Read more

Head of German bishops’ conference says the idea of women deacons “no longer taboo”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:46 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From a German news website: Germany’s top Roman Catholic has called for women to be allowed to become deacons, which would enable them to perform baptisms and marriages outside of mass – a novelty for Catholic women. Archbishop of Freiburg Robert Zollitsch, who chairs the German Bishops’ Conference, called for the change at the end of a four-day meeting to discuss possible reforms. The conference, the first of its kind, invited 300 Roman Catholic experts to propose reforms. Zollitsch’s comments... Read more

USCCB hires Sarah Palin advisor as Cardinal Dolan’s spokesperson—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The e-mail went out this morning: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomes Kim Daniels on board as spokesperson for the president of the USCCB, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Daniels brings to the USCCB her experience as director of Catholic Voices USA, an organization of lay Catholics that works to bring the positive message of the Church across a broad range of issues to the public square. She is also an attorney whose practice has focused on religious liberty matters. Daniels... Read more

BREAKING: Student shoots himself at Catholic high school in Cincinnati—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: A student shot himself with a gun in front of classmates at his Cincinnati high school Monday morning, officials said. Authorities arrived at La Salle High School after several students called 911 around 9 a.m. The victim, believed to have been trying to commit suicide in a classroom, was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said. Officials lifted a brief lockdown at the all-male Catholic high school following reports of a shooter... Read more