Prison housed two notables
Darien priest felon Fr. Jude Fay - who just died of cancer, was housed at the same prison as Bernie Madoff, who apparently, is dying of cancer:
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.
Morning Briefing
Bourgeois takes church to task for not ordaining women
Cardinal criticises same-sex bill
New delegation goes to Honduras
A new delegation of North Americans concerned about human rights arrived in Honduras Aug. 18 for a week-long mission of solidarity and accompaniment. It’s needed. Grassroots organizations opposing the coup continue to demonstrate daily, and meet with government repression.
This new delegation includes Jean Stokan, director of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Justice Team, Diane Guerin, RSM, justice coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Sisters of Mercy; Edia Lopez, RSM, of the Caribbean, Central America and South America Mercy Community; and Marie Dennis, of the Maryknoll Washington office and co-president of Pax Christi International.
Amnesty International’s recent report on Honduras echoed the findings of the Quixote Center delegation in the past couple weeks, reporting serious violations of civil and human rights, particularly directed at those voicing opposition to the coup and calling for constitutional order to be restored. The new delegation, like previous ones, will document any violations and lend protection against further human rights abuses by providing an international presence and witness to events.
Watch the NCR Today blog for updates.
Okla. bishop turns it around
Vatican II misplaced the crucial "orientation" of worship for Catholics, says the bishop of Tulsa, Edward Slattery, so he's making an about face.
Slattery announced that he will no longer face his parishioners during Mass, in an effort to "recover a more authentic Catholic worship."
Read the Religion News Service story here: Okla. bishop no longer faces people at Mass
Camden diocese & University of Dayton collaborate
The Camden, N.J., diocese has entered into a partnership agreement with the University of Dayton for parishioners throughout the diocese to participate in an online academic experience for catechesis formation and adult faith formation.
In signing this agreement, Bishop Joseph A. Galante noted, "This is a continuation of our effort to have better trained and spiritually formed ministry personnel available at the local parish level in response to our Baptismal calling. By participating in this program, catechists will be better educated to teach the faith to our parishioners from early childhood to our adult and senior populations."
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The Camden diocese has numerous relationships with colleges for continuing education. Impressive.
Are the Crusades alive and well?
Some of you may be following the ongoing scandal about Blackwater, the private contactor that has made billions providing "security services" during the war in Iraq. Among other allegations, Blackwater operatives were accused of the reckless killing of 17 civilians in Baghdad, and The New York Times reports that they were hired by the CIA under the Bush/Cheney regime to run an assassination program against Al Qaeda for the CIA. This was the program that Leon Panetta, CIA Director in the Obama Administration, cancelled immediately when he heard about it.
Catholic Key is Out of Tune Again
In his address to the Knights of Columbus, Cardinal Francis George called for a renewed commitment to unity among Catholics. “The Church’s unity today is severely strained, as we all know, and alternative Catholicisms are claiming authenticity even sometimes against the Holy Father and bishops,” he said and called for prayers for, and reflection upon, the ways we all can better stitch together the unity that we should enjoy as Catholics Christians.
In a statement on the issue of health care, delivered on the even of his installation as the Archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Gregory Aymond had this to say: “Strident or shrill rhetoric does not help us to engage in civil and respectful deliberation about a serious social issue with significant moral implications. God grant us the wisdom to discern what is right and the courage to do it.” The new archbishop’s words were a perfect application of Cardinal George’s call.
Morning Briefing
US Jews protest Catholic document on salvation
Catholic sisters to take control of two Denver-area hospitals
Lavish ceremony planned to install Aymond as new archbishop
President Calls Public Option a 'Good Idea' but Not Essential
The Politics Of Ted Kennedy's Health
The failing health of Senator Ted Kennedy has begun to take on acute political significance. All during the spring and summer, Kennedy’s presence has been notably missing in the legislative maneuvering on health care reform, an issue to which the Senator has been committed his entire life. Now, he has written to the political leaders in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts asking that they change the current provisions for filling a senatorial vacancy.
Vatican reverses parish closing
Worshipers at a U.K. church controversially shut by Catholic diocesan authorities, have won an historic ruling from the Vatican that the closure order was "null and void."
Sts. Peter and Paul's church in New Brighton -- known as the "Dome of Home" because it is visible to sailors in Liverpool Bay -- was shut in 2008, despite protests from its parishioners.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury had insisted the church was too expensive to operate and moved services to the Anglican All Saints -- a step which angered many worshippers.
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This Vatican decision will likely serve another purpose: It will be the necessary miracle some blessed soul will need to become a saint!
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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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