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The Deacon's Bench

First the inventor of the trampoline dies, and now this. The creator of a true American icon has gone to the great lunch counter in the sky: It was for decades the most enduring piece of ephemera in New York City and is still among the most recognizable. Trim, blue and white, it fits neatly…

My post yesterday about deacons giving blessings prompted a reader to write: My question is, as a eucharistic minister, would you have in your repertoire a short blessing that we can use when a non-Catholic or child comes up for a blessing during communion? I use, ” May the Lord’s blessings come down upon you…

If you haven’t seen it yet, drop by my Beliefnet blog neighbor Rabbi Shumley and read his account of meeting Pope Benedict: Gary introduced me to the Pope warmly with my formal titles. I gave the Pope a special gift we had gotten for him. It was a beautiful dual-time Phillip Stein watch. The Pope…

Here’s something you certainly don’t see every day, from the Pontifical High Mass celebrated last weekend in Washington.    Not everyone loved it. One commenter at U.S. Catholic magazine called it “a ridiculous mountain of red silk,” and added: It’s one thing to seek the mystery presumably embodied in ancient forms, but I hardly see…

After I made this announcement the other day, Jim Lackey over at the Catholic News Service took notice. He posted his own thoughts on the matter and is soliciting comments about comments. Check it out. There are some interesting observations over there.

Only one diocese in America declines to take part in the USCCB’s annual audit on compliance with the so-called “Dallas Charter”, which was created in the wake of the 2002 sex abuse crisis. And this week, opposing sides staged two small protests over that decision. From the Lincoln Journal Star in Nebraska: Forty-four Catholics gathered…

Which, now that I think of it, isn’t that long from now… Nonetheless…the lesson here: enjoy the dance of life!

It was addressed to “Wilton” — then-Bishop Wilton Gregory, President of the USCCB — in early 2002 and was written by his chancellor.  It is only now seeing the light of day. First, the story behind it, from the St. Louis Beacon: From November 2001, when Bishop Wilton Gregory was elected president of the U.S.…

I get that question a lot — as do many deacons, I’m sure. (Actually, more often, they ask me, “Father, will you give me a blessing?”  That ranks up there with “Father, can you hear my confession?” as one of the more popular post-mass greetings…)   Anyway…canon lawyer Ed Peters has just posted a timely…

At a time when more people are defending the discipline, someone close to the pope is suggesting the vow of celibacy might be changed: The vow of celibacy by the clergy may be open to review, the Vatican’s second highest ranking official has said. “It is not that it is untouchable,” Vatican Secretary of State…
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