The Deacon's Bench

It’s a dramatic move for the Communist island nation — and a sign, perhaps, that the country is turning a corner: With Cuban President Raúl Castro and several high-profile church leaders from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy and the Bahamas present, along with a delegation of priests from the United States led by Miami Archbishop Thomas…

She was a scream as perennial Catholic schoolgirl nerd Mary Katherine Gallagher on “Saturday Night Live.” Now, however, Molly Shannon is taking that act in a different direction: HBO just picked up a comedy from veteran Simpsons writer-producer Tim Long with Molly Shannon attached to star. The untitled comedy would star the Saturday Night Live…

In my channel surfing last night, I couldn’t help but notice that both Nancy Cordes on CBS and Chuck Todd at NBC were proudly brandishing on the air America’s favorite new toy: the iPad.  This may well go down in history as the country’s first iPad election night — but it won’t be the last,…

That’s the provocative opener to a terrific essay by my Assistant News Director, Shu-Fy Pongnon, who riffs on the subject at Patheos: “What if I told you Jesus was a Black man?” How I came to ask Marie this entirely provocative question five minutes before the start of 7:45 a.m. Mass is a mystery to…

What’s behind it? Some answers: A record number of 13 seminarians have begun formation for the Diocese of San Bernardino at Bl. Junipero Serra House of Formation in Grand Terrace, Calif. The men range in age from 18 to 40. Entrants credited priests, discernment nights, and volunteer work for helping them decide to pursue their…

Okay. Time for a little rant.  I’ve been sifting through resumes and cover letters from job applicants. These are from people who are already working in journalism. They are, supposedly, professional communicators.  Most have been out of school for a few years.  And this is the kind of stuff I’m reading: My strong journalistic foundation…

He might have some competition from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but the man who will soon be the Speaker of the House could claim that title. Some details about John Boehner’s upbringing: He was reared in a two-bedroom Sears catalog house in suburban Cincinnati with 11 brothers and sisters, and parents who…

The musician weighs in on religion and his Catholic upbringing in an interview with the Globe and Mail: There are a number of songs addressing religion on the album, but they don’t seem anti-religious so much as opposed to the abuse of religion. I’m suspicious of people who think they know what God knows. Myself,…

Pope Benedict’s historic outreach to Anglicans continues to make history — and make waves: Anglicans who defect to Rome in protest at plans to ordain women bishops could be allowed to continue worshipping in their Church of England buildings, a leading official said today. Hundreds of priests and parishioners are expected to take up the…

A tweet from a certain blogger suggested as much. Check out this profile of the woman who is, the COO of the Miami Church: Doing one thing at a time does not seem to be part of God’s plan for Sister Elizabeth Worley. A few years into her teaching career as a Sister of St.…

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