On October 3, the evening before the Fourteenth Ordinary Synod of Bishops convenes in Rome, thousands of the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for a Prayer Vigil for the Synod. There was music, and Pope Francis addressed the gathered crowd, as did several families–some with squirmy small children. Following is the text of the Holy Father’s address to the faithful. You can watch the full Prayer Vigil (1 hour 49 minutes) below. Dear families, good evening! What use is... Read more
You probably saw the news today: A Polish priest serving as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome came out as gay. More than that, Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa expressed happiness and pride at being a “gay priest,” and reported that he has a boyfriend with whom he enjoys a close relationship. Father Charamsa, who has lived in Rome for 17 years, also serves as assistant secretary of the International Theological Commission and teaches theology at two of... Read more
Right now in St. Peter’s Square, pilgrims are participating in a Prayer Vigil on the eve of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops. You can watch live at the Vatican website. Or join with me in praying this prayer, which was published by Pope Francis in his Angelus address on December 13, 2013. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendor of true love, to you we turn with trust. Holy Family of Nazareth, grant... Read more
In a press conference Monday, September 28, scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirmed that they have identified liquid water flowing on the surface of Mars. NASA researchers, using data from an imager aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, confirmed that the dark streaks on the planet’s surface advance and recede, depending on the season. It’s now believed that what scientists are seeing is running water. And this finding increases the likelihood that there could be living organisms... Read more
At first the Vatican would neither confirm nor deny that Pope Francis had met with Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed for five days after refusing to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples. Then, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, Vatican spokesman, admitted that a brief meeting had taken place at the Vatican Embassy in Washington DC, but that news of the meeting had remained private until after Pope Francis had left the country, so as not to overshadow the... Read more
The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a lawsuit October 1 against the Livonia, Michigan-based Trinity Health Corporation. The offense? The Catholic health care chain, which operates 86 hospitals in 21 states, does not perform abortions. According to the ACLU lawsuit, Trinity Health is guilty of “denying appropriate emergency care to women suffering pregnancy complications.” They “prohibit Catholic hospitals from terminating the pregnancy of a woman suffering a pregnancy complication, even if such care is... Read more
Just days before the opening of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family, a group of prominent Catholic women have renewed their commitment to the Catholic Church and their fidelity to its doctrines on sexuality, marriage and the family, and the dignity of the human person. The Catholic Women’s Forum has made public a letter to the Synod Fathers, signed by two hundred leading women leaders. You can join the signatories, adding your name to the list of Catholic women... Read more
September 30 is the feast of St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, patron of libraries. The most scholarly of the church’s early theologians, Jerome has an extensive list of writings. His commentaries and letters offer a peek into fourth-century life in Rome, but he is probably best known for translating the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate). Medieval paintings of the saint always show him with a large book. Which has me wondering: If Jerome, scholar that he was, were alive... Read more
Pope watchers are still reviewing and analyzing the talks which Pope Francis delivered while in the U.S.–his presentation at the White House, before the Congress, to prisoners, to the victims of sexual abuse and their families, to the Bishops, to attendees at the World Meeting of Families. But news of the most interesting meeting of all has just come to light: Apparently, Pope Francis met secretly with Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses... Read more
A House vote is expected today on an important effort to support those states which choose to deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers. The “Women’s Public Health and Safety Act” (H.R. 3495), introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), would make it clear that federal law does not prevent a state from, at its option, excluding organizations that provide elective abortions from the Medicaid program. According to a Government Accountability Office report released March 20, 2015, PPFA received $344.5 million... Read more
Seasons of Grace
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