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The Deacon's Bench

I have a rare weekend off from preaching; they’re showing a video for the Bishop’s Annual Catholic Appeal at all the masses, so that will eat up the homily time. So I don’t have a homily to post today.  But I thought I’d share another great prayer from Deacon James Keating’s new book “A Deacon’s…

“Even the best of all possible translations of the new Missal will not suit every individual’s preference. No translation will be perfect. Proponents of the new text sometimes argue, perhaps unfairly, that the texts currently in use in our liturgy (in the present Sacramentary), the product of great efforts by translators from 1969 to 1973,…

“There’s a standard of torture in civil law, which is severe mental pain and suffering. I also have a common-sense definition, which is, ‘If you’re willing to try it, it’s not torture.'” — Former Bush speechwriter (and Catholic) Marc Thiessen, defending waterboarding. The New York Times “Beliefs” column unpacks the controversy.

Deacon Jim Hynes Friend, Classmate, BrotherJuly 31, 1958 – February 26, 2008 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there wre not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place…

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, from the USCCB, just sent around this e-mail, which I post here. It’s a response to recent media inquiries about the Senate version of the health care reform bill: The Senate Health Care Reform bill clearly expands abortion services, despite suggestions by some political leaders to the contrary. Richard Doerflinger, Associate…

Well, yes, he has a point: With the Olympic games closing this Sunday evening, how about a well-deserved tip of the hat to all of the Olympic officials because, after all, they are the souls which time men’s tries. Kindly refrain from throwing things at your computer. Thank you. 

Does kibble count? I have no idea where this originated — a friend posted it on his Facebook page today — but it’s the perfect antidote for a blizzardy Friday. Enjoy.

It happened the other night, when Joannie Rochette stepped onto the ice just four days after her mother’s death, and uplifted the hearts of the world: At the end of her medal-winning skate, Joannie Rochette threw back her head and blew a kiss to the heavens. That was for you, mom. Four days after her…

“God can also meet you at any time, no matter how confused your life may seem. You do not have to have a perfectly organized daily life to experience God. Your spiritual house does not need to be tidy for God to enter. In the Gospels, for example, Jesus often meets people in the midst…

An interesting wrinkle in the ongoing debate over abortion in Spain: If King Juan Carlos of Spain signs a new law easing restrictions on abortion, as he is constitutionally required, the country’s bishops will not take action against him, the general secretary of the Spanish bishops’ conference said. As the law was being debated, Spain’s…
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