Category Archives: Church News

Bishop Arthur O’Neill

Posted on 30 April 2013 by

I see one of my bishops has died. My recollection of him was his endorsement and participation in the North American Forum’s 1989 Beginnings and Beyond Institute in the Rockford Diocese. He stood next to me in the choir. He … Continue reading →

Posted in bishops, Church News | Tagged | 2 Comments

Magic Spell

Posted on 30 April 2013 by

The hand-wringing over Pope Francis and the (lack of) media criticism seems to be building. I find it all a number two attraction to the Catholic conservative spinning over other aspects of his ministry. Sandro Magister headlines the phenomenon as … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, spirituality, The Blogosphere | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Interdict?

Posted on 28 April 2013 by

So … when the Vatican says it won’t ordain any bishops for a country until an investigation is complete, is it something like an “episcopal interdict?” Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Congregation for Bishops, has communicated his office will not … Continue reading →

Posted in bishops, Church News | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“Unblocked”

Posted on 22 April 2013 by

Interesting choice of words, for a mainstream Catholic outlet like CNS: Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, said … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Politics, Saints | 3 Comments

More on LCWR/CDF

Posted on 19 April 2013 by

I was pondering another post on the LCWR-CDF dust-up. Honestly, I didn’t think there was anything more to say about it. It seems to be in the hands of the bishops and the sisters. I think the bishops are in … Continue reading →

Posted in bishops, Church News, Commentary, Ministry | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Pope Francis and the LCWR

Posted on 16 April 2013 by

The tables of schadenfreude (what a great word!) have turned with the news of the papal endorsement of the CDF witchhunt on the LCWR. It was likely too much to expect a new pope to pull the plug on the Rodé/Levada/Dolan fiasco. … Continue reading →

Posted in bishops, Church News, women religious | Tagged , | 8 Comments

More Hand Wringing on Feet Washing

Posted on 13 April 2013 by

From England and Wales, Father Paul Gunter, secretary for the department for Christian Life and Worship, weighed in a few days ago on washing the feet of Holy Thursday women. To sum: don’t do as the pope does, do as … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Holy Week, Liturgy, Ministry | Leave a comment

Curia Reform Commission

Posted on 13 April 2013 by

Would you feel at ease with Pope Francis’ eight picks to look into curial reform? Three cardinals from the Americas, one each from North, Central, and South. A German and an Italian represent Europe. One red hat each from Africa, Asia, … Continue reading →

Posted in bishops, Church News | 2 Comments

The Francis Effect

Posted on 9 April 2013 by

Apparently, it doesn’t take much to get Italians back to the Sacrament of Penance. It’s the Bergoglio effect. While some scholars and websites – who were declared papists up until a month ago – continue to criticise the new Pope, … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Ministry | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Pope Francis Friday

Posted on 5 April 2013 by

CNS reported on Pope Francis meeting with B16′s CDF head. As reported, sisters and theologians were not on the docket, but praise for the movement to addressing sex predators. For the defenders of the innocent, all eyes will be on … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, sex abuse, The Blogosphere | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ten Days In

Posted on 23 March 2013 by

NCRep editorial on Pope Francis. I’d like to take a look at some of the conclusions drawn in the middle of the piece. The editorial board suggests that the hierarchy has been behind the times in assessing the state of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Commentary | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Where Does This Holy Thursday Lead?

Posted on 21 March 2013 by

I’ve been reticent about posting on every news item coming from the vicinity of Pope Francis. Cardinal Law. Msgr Marini. Et cetera. It seems he will be celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in a youth prison. It had … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, evangelization, Liturgy, Ministry | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Optimism

Posted on 20 March 2013 by

I have yet to hear major things I dislike on the Pope Francis front this week. Now he wants to engage the Evil Empire the Dictatorship of Relativism non-believers as partners in the struggle for environmental conservation and for peace. … Continue reading →

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The Stuff of Legends

Posted on 18 March 2013 by

So the various early stories about Pope Francis are coming up short on truthiness. No matter. I think what we are seeing is a groupthink of Catholics and a few others who have plugged into the Hope. I have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Commentary | Tagged | 2 Comments

Pope Francis on Evangelization I

Posted on 13 March 2013 by

From another interview, when discussing the missionary spirit of the faith: Staying, remaining faithful implies an outgoing. Precisely if one remains in the Lord one goes out of oneself. Paradoxically precisely because one remains, precisely if one is faithful one changes. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, evangelization, spirituality | Tagged , , | 2 Comments