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The Deacon's Bench

A reader e-mailed me the following, with this note: “I have not seen much commentary on the current troubles in our church from faithful members of other ecclessial communities. No piling on by Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans etc. They are well aware of their own failings and many admire the Catholic churches record on social…

Some might wonder what, exactly, that is. From Wikipedia: In Western Christianity, the Wednesday before Easter is sometimes known as “Spy Wednesday”, indicating that it is the day that Judas Iscariot first conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins. This event is described in the three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 26:14-16, Mark…

Earlier, I offered the press release announcing Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s homily, which was delivered at this evening’s Chrism Mass. Here’s more, from his prepared text: In recent weeks, we have all been reminded of the evil that some of our brothers inflicted upon children. These men are our brothers and we all, priests and bishops,…

The striking and dramatic Stations of the Cross below were created by Deacon Bernard Deschler (another Brooklyn boy).  I really think that they’re something extraordinary, and that they ask us to look at Christ’s Passion in a new way.  Check out more of his work at his website.

That’s how Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio describes the recent coverage of the pope, in his homily at tonight’s Chrism Mass.  From the press release: In his homily to the priests and people of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, called upon the priests and people of the Diocese of Brooklyn to stand up with him…

As one friend of mine noted, reading this item, “We live in interesting times…” : One week before the most solemn day in the Christian year, the city of Davenport, Iowa removed Good Friday from its municipal calendar, setting off a storm of complaints from Christians and union members whose contracts give them that day…

An e-mail about this arrived in my in-box overnight, and it’s worth reading. It’s regarding the notorious case of Fr. Murphy — written by the presiding judge in his case.  A snip: Since my name and comments in the matter of the Father Murphy case have been liberally and often inaccurately quoted in the New…

Some people are predicting a “crackdown,” at least in the United States, but the people in a position to know disagree: American Catholic marriage tribunalists are denying rumors of a Vatican crackdown on the high number of annulments granted in the United States. Secular news reports on Pope Benedict XVI’s late January comments to the…

“The crisis of authority endures. There has been some accountability for the abusers, but not nearly enough for the bishops who enabled them. And now the shadow of past sins threatens to engulf this papacy. Popes do not resign. But a pope can clean house. And a pope can show contrition, on his own behalf…

The Palm Sunday Blessing of the Streets in Santa Ana, California — an annual tradition that many feel has helped spur a dramatic drop in violent crime in the community. Read all about it here.
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