Ala. churches lead opposition to immigration law
The Associated Press reports:
NCR Today
NCR Today is the group blog of NCR. Each member of our diverse team of bloggers writes on different topics, including the politics of the church and secular society (and the interaction between the two), culture, management of the church and more.
Dealing with misfortune
Lightning ignited a parish hall in Vermont last Wednesday. Read the story here.
St. Mary’s Church in Joplin, Mo., was destroyed by the May tornado. Last year a flood damaged Sacred Heart Church in Rhode Island around Easter.
Have you dealt with rebuilding a parish church or parish hall after a fire, flood, etc.? What were the challenges and what were the positive outcomes?
On this day: Bl. Catherine Tekakwitha
On this day we remember Blessed Catherine Tekakwitha, 1656 - 1680.
Allan Greer places the life of Catherine Tekakwitha and that of her hagiographer, Claude Chauchetière, S. J., in historical and cultural context in Mohawk Saint: Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits, Oxford University Press, 2006.
Morning Briefing
President Obama storms out of debt negotiation meeting, warns GOP not to 'call my bluff'
China's Catholic church ordains another bishop
Irish report damns Catholic Church abuse response
German Catholic Church opens sexual abuse files, some back to end of WWII
Marian apparitions on ABC tonight
After several schedule changes, tonight ABC will air "Beyond Belief" about Marian apparitions tonight on PRIMETIME. (See my earlier blog: ABC to air documentary on Mejdugorje.)
A friend sent me this notice: If you wish to "TIVO" it for future viewing, it is titled "Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief" in the TIVO system (with "The Miracle Mysteries" used in the description field).
More on Cleveland's apostolic investigation
This just in the e-mail box. We learned Monday Cleveland the diocese would be the subject of an apostolic visitation this week. John M. Smith, bishop emeritus of the Trenton, N.J., is doing the visiting. We hope he gets a chance to talk with the folks at FutureChurch. They have a lot of good things to say.
Ireland: Gov't report finds bishops didn't follow own abuse guidelines
NCR will have a complete report on this soon. Until then, read what the independent The Irish Catholic is reporting:
Allegation of 'inappropriate' behaviour against Bishop John Magee
The Murphy investigation into the handling of allegations of child sexual abuse against clerics in the Diocese of Cloyne has concluded that the Church’s own guidelines were “not fully or consistently implemented” in the diocese as recently as 2008.
The report, concluded by Judge Yvonne Murphy, also reveals that Bishop John Magee (left) has admitted to what has been described as inappropriate behaviour with a young man who he embraced, kissed and told the young aspirant for the priesthood that he loved him.
The 400-page report also records for the first time stark disagreement between Irish bishops over whether Bishop Magee – a former secretary to three Popes – should quit as Bishop of Cloyne after he was found in December 2008 by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) to be operating child safeguarding policies that were “inadequate and in some respects dangerous”.
On this day: Fr. Flanagan
On this day, 125 years ago, Edward Joseph Flanagan was born in County Roscommon, Ireland.
"In 1904, he set sail for the United States. Following his ordination in 1912, Father Flanagan was assigned to the Diocese of Omaha. His first parish assignment was Saint Patrick’s in O’Neill, Nebraska. In March 1913, he was appointed Assistant Pastor to Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Omaha.
"On December 12, 1917, Father Flanagan opened his first Boys’ Home in a run-down Victorian mansion in downtown Omaha. In 1921, the Boys’ Home moved to Overlook Farm, its present location near 139th and West Dodge Road. Father Flanagan and Boys Town became internationally known with the help of the 1938 movie, 'Boys Town.' He became an acknowledged expert in the field of child care, and toured the United States discussing his views on juvenile delinquency."
--"Father Edward J. Flanagan", Boys Town.
Morning Briefing
Ireland to publish new investigation into Catholic Church’s cover-up of child abuse. Watch NCRonline.org later this morning for a full report on this investigation.
Philippine Catholic bishops return vehicles after apologizing for alleged illegal donations
Philippine Bishops' vehicles may be auctioned off
Judge: Catholic Charities can keep serving foster kids, for now, Issue hinges on compliance with, interpretation of Illinois civil union law
My friend Arthur and a discussion of sex offenders
My friend Arthur (not his real name) had a bench trial on a couple of weeks ago and the judge found him guilty of possession of child pornography. He had two housemates who had already pleaded guilty, both to possession and to having sex with a 15 year old.
Freud said that we are all teeming cauldrons of emotion. I laugh at the truth of that -- except when I’m crying over how eager we are to punish others. The behavior is wrong, but the other two men are serving 15 year sentences and Arthur stands to get that much because he didn’t take a plea agreement for time served. (He is not charged with having sex with the 15 year old.)
Arthur has pled guilty twice to sex offenses, the first time when he was 18, the second time when he was 23 and just out of prison. He says he was innocent and indeed 18 year olds most commonly confess to crimes they did not commit. He is one of three siblings, all of whom were abused as children.
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In This Issue
May 10-23, 2013
- Illinois parish's ESL program welcomes all
- A different Mary assumes the stage
- A question few seem to consider when the US wages war afar
- [Print Edition Only] Special Section: Summer Listings
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