Joe Feuerherd's blog

Writes Archbishop Charles Chaput on the First Things website today: "If the defective Senate version of health-care reform pushed by congressional leaders passes into law—against the will of the American people and burdened by serious moral problems in its content—we’ll have 'Catholic' voices partly to thank for it. And to hold responsible" [emphasis added].

You can find the entire piece here.

NY Times: Munich Archdiocese was Warned on Priest

Pope’s Letter to Irish Church to be Released Saturday

Catholics Key in Health Care Homestretch

New Allegations Surface in Ireland

Human Rights Groups Protest Release of Guatemalan Colonel who Killed Bishop

Priest Bond Request Denied

The story is here.

NCR contributor Michael Sean Winters follows Sr. Simone Campbell of Network on "Tell Me More."

Read the NCR editorial here.

Last night, NCR Senior Correspondent John Allen appeared on the PBS News Hour to discuss the abuse crisis in Germany.

Here's the setup piece.

Here's the interview with John.

Those who have watched Bart Stupak (D-MI) over the years know that he is more a "workhorse" than "showhorse." That's why Rachel Maddow's claims that Stupak is opposing the current health care bill because he wants the publicity strike anyone with any knowledge of the man as ludicrous. (If you click on the link you'll have to endure a short advertisement.)

But I didn't realize, according to this report from The Hill, that he "has never signed up for federal health benefits because he promised voters in 1992 that he wouldn’t until universal healthcare was enacted."

Experts, including some frequent NCR contributors, provide perspective on the German abuse crisis and Benedict XVI.

From his column, in today's Washington Post.

John discusses the news from Germany and the Pope's role.

Andrew Sullivan asks them here.

When Bill O'Reilly is the "liberal" in a debate, you know it's an interesting story. Here O'Reilly questions a priest about the Denver Archdiocese's treatment of the gay couple whose children will not be allowed to attend the only Catholic parochial school in Boulder next year. (You have to scroll about half way down the page to get to the video clip.)

Meanwhile, NCR's exclusive interview with the couple can be found here.

NCR Exclusive: Children denied Catholic Schooling, Lesbian Couple Speaks Out

Investigations Announced in Germany

Irish Church May be ‘Beyond Repair’

US Bishops Oppose Senate Health Care Bill

Study: Latinos Key to US Church Growth

Vietnamese Government Releases Priest Human Rights Activist

CNS has the story.

NCR Editor Tom Fox interviewed the mothers at the center of a storm in a Colorado parish. It is an amazing story and great journalism.

T.R. Reid makes a persuasive case in yesterday's Washington Post.

Stories on Fallout from Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis in Germany Can be Found here, here, and here.

Irish Cardinal Says He Won’t Resign

Jesuit Robert Carter, Advocate for Gays in the Church, Dead at 82

Catholic Health Association Backs Senate Health Bill

Pope Benedict XVI's former German diocese said Friday it made a mistake when the pontiff was archbishop in allowing a priest suspected to have abused a child to return to pastoral work. However, it said Benedict wasn't involved in the decision, according to the Associate Press.

The details came hours after Germany's top bishop briefed Pope Benedict XVI on the spiraling cases of clerical sex abuse in the pontiff's native Germany and said the pope encouraged him to pursue the truth and assist the victims.

From Talking Points Memo.

From the Huffington Post.

It was the story that had everything: a beautiful Hollywood actress whose star was on the rise, a debonair Italian entrepreneur who purported to do both well and good, a former president and his billionaire buddy, a would-be president of the other party and, not least, Vatican intrigue.

Remember Raffaelo Follieri? Tonight CNBC premiers its documentary, part of its “American Greed” series, on the New York-based “real estate developer” whose business plan included buying up aging US parishes and converting them into “socially responsible” properties – such as day care centers and housing for the aged.

The promo for the show (a short advertisement for CNBC is, unfortunately, at the frontend of the clip) can be found here.

Turns out the business was a scam. Follieri, who once lived in the Trump Towers and maintained a Park Avenue office opposite the Waldorf Astoria, now resides in Federal prison.

Oh, but what a scam!

The Biden ‘Bruise’

Victims See Little Out of Vatican Meeting

Catholic, Mormons, Post Membership Gains

‘Carbon Fast’ Urged for Lent

Bishop Defends Actions in Assault Case

Citing Same Sex Marriage, DC Catholic Charities Drops Foster Care Program

Pope Urged to Slow Pius XII Sainthood

Vatican WWII Archives to be Posted Online

Pope Meets with Irish Bishops

Catholic Politicians Can’t Support Same Sex Marriage, Says Vatican Cardinal

Bishop Urges Faithful to Join Electronic ‘Fast’

Irish Nuncio Won’t Testify

Florida Bishops Urge Execution Stay

No ‘Love Boat’ for Engaged Catholics at Sea

Church Outreach to Infertile Couples

Oregon Diocese Breaks with Hospital

Buffalo Diocese Finds Buyers for Shuttered Churches

The remarkable transformation of Trinity Washington University (once commonly known as "Trinity College") is featured in this week's Washington Post Magazine. The article highlights how Trinity President Pat McGuire, a constant presence at the Northeast DC school, saved the institution and made it a model for modern inner-city higher education. Well worth the read.

BTW, Trinity is cosponsoring, along with NCR, a May 6-7 conference, "A Washington Briefing for the Nation's Catholic Community." Plan to attend. For more information, visit http://ncrnews.org/conference/briefing_may2010/.

Irish Bishops Meet with Pope

Tony Blair Explains Lifting of Catholic Ban

Protest Targets Church’s Gay Marriage Stance

Scranton Diocese Faces Further Cuts

Cardinal to Celebrate Latin Mass at DC Shrine

Search for Mahony Successor Begins

Catholics Consider a Return to the Fold

Faith Based Board Member Stirs Controversy

Church Challenges South African President

Scranton Diocese Faces Financial Shortfalls

Bishop Ricard has Surgery

New KY Bishop Installed

Ban on Religious Garb Lifted in Oregon

Evangelicals/Catholics Back Immigration Reform

Layoffs, Wage Cuts , Planned at NY Hospital

Vatican Denies Role in Editor’s Departure

Santorum on Same Sex Marriage

Parishes Urge to Prepare for New Missal

Catholic Hospital Under Fire

Polish Bishop Apologizes

Spokane Abuse Case Goes to Jury

More Calls for Law Resignation