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The Deacon's Bench

Some disturbing news out of Tennessee: Two Baptist church pamphlets are causing controversy with a Roman Catholic church in Pigeon Forge. The pamphlet suggests the Roman Catholic church isn’t Christian and the pope is an anti-Christ. While some people say the pamphlet expresses religious freedom, others say it’s a hate crime. Father Jay Flaherty, of…

It seems some in Britain don’t want taxpayer money to pay for the pontiff’s upcoming trip to the UK: A petition protesting against Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain later this year is to be handed in to Downing Street by the National Secular Society. It calls on the prime minister to exempt taxpayers from…

Rocco has the goods on some significant strategic planning underway in Baltimore and Brooklyn that will result in the closing and consolidating of parishes (Brooklyn) and schools (Baltimore). Here at The Bench, the hardworking staff at the Brooklyn Desk wandered over to the Diocese of Brooklyn website and found an impressive new web page set…

Some people just have entirely too much time on their hands. But there’s clearly a mad genius at work here. Take a look and marvel at the imagination behind this.  It’s Rube Goldberg on acid. H/T Sullivan

That would be Fr. James Martin, Jesuit author, sage, TV personality and FOB (Friend of the Bench). The good padre has a new book coming out, “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,” and he’s making the rounds to promote it. USA Today has a lengthy piece (with an abundance of links) in Thursday’s paper: James…

That startling statement by a leading exorcist is making headlines — and getting reaction: A renowned exorcist in Rome recently released a book of memoirs in which he declares to know of the existence of Satanic sects in the Vatican where participation reaches all the way to the College of Cardinals. A second demonologist, also…

Forget it. (And that evidently goes for any other religious symbol, too.) Just weeks after a Wiccan worship space caused a stir at the Air Force Academy, a teenager’s plan to build an altar in Iowa is causing problems, too: A high school senior’s desire to build a Wiccan altar in shop class has forced…

The celebrated humorist and radio host is scheduled to speak at a Catholic gathering next month — and it’s raising a few eyebrows: The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) has invited Garrison Keillor, a pro-abortion, pro-gay “marriage” Episcopalian, as a keynote speaker at the group’s annual convention. Keillor, well-known as a humorist and host of…

It was only a matter of time until someone came up with this nutty idea — and wouldn’t you know, it comes to us from, of all places, France: A premium rate phone line in France is offering Catholics the chance to confess their sins, for 34c (31p) a minute plus connection charge. But French…

 The Divine Mercy painting of Jesus Christ hangs from a damaged house in Iloca, Chile.  Monday, March 1, 2010.  Photo from AP / Fernando Vergara
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