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The Deacon's Bench

We knew this was coming, and here it is: A Vatican document has reaffirmed the supremacy of the Catholic Church over alternative Christian churches by labelling them “defective.”The 16-page pamphlet, published on Tuesday by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and endorsed by Pope Benedict XVI, does not differ substantially from a previous…

Pope Benedict — having dashed off a long letter to the Chinese and then a shorter letter to everyone else about the Latin mass — has scurried off for his vacation. But he’s not planning to kick back and read the new Harry Potter book or see “The Simpsons” movie or go roller-blading with Cardinal…

Yeah, right. This new study seems to prove otherwise: Researchers found that wives, on average, displayed more power than their husbands during problem-solving discussions, regardless of who brought up the topic of discussion. And it’s not simply a case of women talking more than men. “It wasn’t just that the women were bringing up issues…

The U.S. bishops have started to comment on the motu proprio. Here’s a summary of some: Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit said the apostolic letter “Summorum Pontificum” showed the pope’s “pastoral care for those members of the faithful who desire to worship God” with the Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal, commonly known…

The pope has asked one of the most famous prelates in the West to stay on past retirement age: The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, offered his resignation ahead of his 75 birthday in accordance with canon law. Pope Benedict XVI has said the cardinal should remain in position. Cardinal O’Connor, who has accepted…

That phrase from the psalms leaped to mind when I read about a particularly nimble group of scribes in India. I’m not sure why anybody attempted this, but some Christians there have set a record for writing the Bible. The details: A group of Christians in India set a new world record by writing the…

I stumbled across this little list, and I have to say, it offers nuggets of wisdom not only for priests, but deacons, too: Maxims for the Priesthood – Good for Most of the Time Avoid handling money Wear black socks, shine your shoes, be well-groomed Speak and write English simply and well There may be…

The pope’s motu proprio for expanding access to the 1962 mass has been greeted with enthusiasm in some traditional circles. But those who may have the most to gain from it, the schismatic members of the Society of St. Piux X, seem to be waiting for more: Excommunicated Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the Swiss-based…

While we’re pondering the significance of the motu proprio, some of our Episcopalian brothers and sisters are scratching their heads over this: The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding, a local Episcopal priest who announced she is both Muslim and Christian, will not be able to serve as a priest for a year, according to her bishop.…

It was bound to happen sooner or later: someone has found a way to make hip hop Catholic. There are no subliminal messages or underlying themes. It is the familiar in-your-face style of rap music placed at the service of the Gospel. “God has given us gifts and talents and we should use everything we’re…
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