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The Deacon's Bench

The AP is reporting that a growing number of churches are now making it a habit to conduct routine background checks: More churches and religious groups are conducting background checks and taking other steps to protect children against mistreatment in the wake of the sex abuse scandal that has plagued the Catholic Church for years.…

An early skirmish in the annual “war on Christmas” ended quickly, and without any apparent bloodshed, after the party which fired the first shot waved a white flag of surrender. Details: Richmond will have a “Christmas” parade after all. The nonprofit group that organizes the annual holiday march down Broad Street announced yesterday that it…

I caught part of last night’s episode of “Glee,” which dealt (rather delicately) with the idea of religion.  The plot swirled around a teenager who discovered the face of Jesus on a grilled cheese sandwich, and another kid, whose father was in critical condition in the hospital.  Life, death, doubt, belief — it was all…

The diocesan paper for San Francisco is taking a look at deacons this week — and offers a solid overview of the vocation and the men who are becoming a part of it: An active parishioner and energetic volunteer outside the church, Ven Garcia was discussing plans for a spiritual retreat with an assistant pastor…

This was sent to me by a deacon friend of mine, and it’s a winner. It was produced by a Protestant church in Abilene, Texas.  

That would be “Angels in America,” Tony Kushner’s acclaimed (and controversial) depiction of what the author describes as “a gay fantasia on national themes.” This isn’t the first time a Catholic school has produced the play;  I found this account of its staging at Catholic University in Washington DC some years back.  But I can’t…

I can think of no more compelling answer than this one. Take and read. It speaks volumes.

The tragedy of Tyler Clementi has provoked a lot of comment in the media, but this essay by a renowned Baptist minister struck me as particularly sharp, and challenging: When gay activists accuse conservative Christians of homophobia, they are also right. Much of our response to homosexuality is rooted in ignorance and fear. We speak…

A Virginia priest has come up with a novel way to raise money for kids to attend World Youth Day in Madrid: New Year’s Day has come early for Father Steve Schultz, parochial vicar of St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly. The priest has pledged, between now and March 6, to lose between 40 to 50…

That’s what’s causing a furor out in Colorado, according to this report: An exhibit at a Colorado art gallery is stirring up outrage from critics who say it depicts Jesus Christ in a sexual act. Enrique Chagoya’s “The Misadventures of the Romantic Cannibals,” created in 2003, is a multipanel piece in which “cultural and religious…
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