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The Deacon's Bench

The New York Times — hardly the best friend of the city’s Archbishop — takes a long look at the man now occupying The Chair at St. Patrick’s, on the occasion of Timothy Dolan’s one-year anniversary: Among both defenders and critics of the church’s Roman leadership, there is near-unanimous accord that in sending Archbishop Dolan…

Ladies and gentlemen, the most adorable pet of the year: baby kangaroos. Perfect for keeping you company while you go jogging. Can they be housebroken??

While many may debate the “fruits” of Medjugorje, it seems the place has not been especially productive when it comes to vocations among the seers. Catholic Light has a lengthy posting on the subject that is well worth reading for those who take Medjugorje seriously — and even those who don’t. 

According to this blogger — a clergywoman in the Episcopal church — the answer is decidedly mixed.  From Rev. Ann Fontaine, over at Episcopal Cafe: We have our own history of the abuse of power, secrecy, and denial. It was not until the ’70s and ’80s that these abuses were finally addressed by the Church…

We’ve seen it everywhere and taken it for granted, but yes: someone did invent that stretch of canvas you see at the circus. And word came this week that he has bounced to that Big Top in the sky: One by one, the trapeze artists topped off their routines by dropping from their high-swinging bars…

Some praise for the pontiff, from a surprising source, famed lawyer Alan Dershowitz: Nor is the Catholic Church the only institution that has faced problems of sexual abuse. Every hierarchical body, especially but not exclusively religious ones, has faced similar problems, though perhaps on not so large a scale. The problem of hierarchical sex abuse…

“I happen to think this is a great and important time to be Catholic. Really. No joke. How often do we get to be right smack in the middle of an opportunity for radical Christ-based, Holy Spirit-generated change – and know it? The challenge is, of course, believing that such change is possible, that we…

Sad news but, unfortunately, not all that surprising: The house in which Pope Benedict XVI was born in the southern Bavarian village of Marktl am Inn was vandalized overnight with an “obscene” phrase spray- painted above the main door, police said. The blue graffiti was discovered early today, Bavarian police said in a statement on…

And now, a little palate-cleanser… This is one of my favorite chants, and one we hear often this season at my parish: the Regina Caeli. (Our cantor sang it after communion last Sunday, as she will every Sunday during Easter season, and it was like hearing from an old friend.) Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.…

In what may be a first, anywhere, an outspoken Massachusetts pastor this weekend used his Sunday homily to call for Pope Benedict’s resignation: The Rev. James J. Scahill describes himself as “rather a reclusive person.” He insists he is no rebel. But the parish priest from East Longmeadow was fielding media calls from around the…
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