What were her parents thinking?! Sheila Ranea Crabtree hates the name her parents chose for her. She hates it so much, in fact, that she has dropped her first name altogether, and she’s asked a judge to change her first name to Sexy. The Pataskala, Ohio mother of two wears Victoria’s Secret clothing all the time; so it only makes sense, she figures, to adopt the more fitting handle “Sexy”. She has paid the $87 court fee and will appear... Read more
Notre Dame University, said Pope Francis this morning, “has made an outstanding contribution to the Church in your country through its commitment to the religious education of the young and to serious scholarship inspired by confidence in the harmony of faith and reason in the pursuit of truth and virtue.” The Pope spoke about the vision of Father Edward Sorin, founder of the university, and the missionary dimension which should be evident in Catholic universities. He further called for Notre... Read more
“We didn’t think some reactions would be so tough.” Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, prefect of the Pontifical Council on Social Communications, told Italian media that the Vatican considered temporarily closing the papal Twitter account because of a barrage of vulgarity. The Vatican had expected insults, he explained Tuesday, when they opened the papal account @Pontifex in December 2012. However, the rude and crude posts which came from around the world were a shock to Vatican officials. Despite the onslaught of... Read more
His fisted hand stretching toward the sky, his white cape blowing in the Roman winds, his black leather bag of values in his hand, SuperPope flies off through the streets of Rome, carrying his message of hope. Yesterday, it was the cover of Rolling Stone. Today, Pope Francis has been depicted yet again–this time in graffiti on a wall along the Borgo Pio, near Castel Sant’Angelo. In the street art, Pope Francis is depicted as a hero, cross swinging around... Read more
Another first: Pope Francis smiles and waves from the cover of the rock magazine Rolling Stone! Under his name, the magazine headline in the February 13, 2014 issue reads: “The times they are a’changin’.” Contributing editor Mark Binelli has penned an article delineating what he thinks are the most important innovations likely to be enacted during the Francis papacy. Hardly a Catholic-friendly piece, Binelli writes: “After the disastrous papacy of Benedict, a staunch traditionalist who looked like he should be... Read more
“Women,” says Pope Francis, “should play a greater role in society and the Church.” But what exactly does that mean? Pope Francis spoke on Saturday, January 25 to the national congress of the Italian Women’s Centre, a Catholic women’s association promoting greater democracy, human rights and human dignity. “I strongly wish,” he said, “…that (opportunities and responsibilities) may open themselves up further to the presence and participation of women, both in the church as well as in society and the... Read more
Seven Catholic nuns died late Saturday in Puebla, in east central Mexico, when the bus in which they were riding plunged into a 260-foot ravine. Members of the Order of the Most Holy Savior and Saint Bridget (the Bridgettines), the sisters–who ranged in age from 20 to 46–were returning to their convent after a visit at a retirement home in Ciudad Serdan. Two men perished in the crash, as well; and two other nuns from the same community were seriously... Read more
Blood? Somebody stole his BLOOD?!! Reports from Italy this morning are that thieves broke into the small mountain church of San Pietro della Ienca, near the city of L’Aquila, over the weekend and stole a reliquary containing the blood of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Only the reliquary and a crucifix were stolen, leaving behind the collection box; and police have conjectured that the thieves may seek a ransom for the blood. The church, which kept the relic in a ... Read more
As tens of thousands of people watched in St. Peter’s Square today, two white doves released in St. Peter’s Square were attacked by a crow and a seagull. Small children had joined Pope Francis in the window of the Apostolic Palace to release the doves today, as a peace gesture following the pope’s remarks calling for peace in Ukraine. Civil unrest in that country this week has led to the deaths of anti-government protestors. I’m afraid peace... Read more
DECENT WORK and JUST WAGES. Those are the noble goals laid out in a January 8 letter to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means, and signed by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. The letter asserts... Read more
Seasons of Grace
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