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Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

April 2019

April 13, 2019

The ‘Radical Availability’ of Priests — UPDATED

This thread popped up on Twitter Friday, and I think it's worth noting. A priest...

April 12, 2019

‘Our Future in Our Hands’: Homily for Palm Sunday

A homily from The Vault: We have just heard the climax of the Greatest Story...

April 12, 2019

NBC News: Steve Bannon, Conservatives Take Aim at Pope Francis

Details: Strolling through St. Peter’s Square, the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, Steve Bannon...

April 11, 2019

WATCH: Pope Francis Kisses the Feet of South Sudan Leaders, Pleading for Peace — UPDATED

The CNS video is astonishing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=HulTVtdPpCw The story: At the end of a highly unusual...

April 11, 2019

When the Pastor Tells You He’ll be Singing ‘The Exsultet’

A deacon friend writes: Well, this is a first for me. The new pastor at...

April 11, 2019

From ‘Powerful’ to ‘Embarrassing’: Reaction to Benedict’s Letter

It's only been out there less than a day, but already Benedict XVI's 6,000-word letter...

April 10, 2019

BREAKING: Benedict Writes About Sex Abuse Crisis, Blames Pedophilia on ‘The Absence of God’

The op-ed editor for The New York Post says he has read the as-yet-unpublished essay...

April 10, 2019

The Washington Post Responds to Covington Teenager’s Lawsuit

Details from The Hollywood Reporter: The Washington Post has moved to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought...

April 10, 2019

Do Religious Orders Have Permanent Deacons?

Yes, indeed. I received an email today from my Salesian priest friend Mike Mendl, eager...

April 09, 2019

What About the Widows of Deacons?

A deacon dropped me a line this afternoon: Something came to mind during our retreat...

April 09, 2019

Never Forget: Recalling the Death of Bonhoeffer

The great preacher, writer, theologian and witness to the faith, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was executed on...

April 09, 2019

For Those With Long Memories: A Happy Conclusion to a ‘Deacon’s Bench’ Epic

Wow. I first posted on this remarkable undertaking over a decade ago, when my blog...

April 08, 2019

‘Unplanned’ Becomes the Latest Battleground in the Culture Wars

From The New York Times: It was a rare packed house for a weeknight in...

April 08, 2019

‘A Busy Person’s Guide to Prayer’ is Now Available on Kindle

Over the last few weeks, a lot of folks have asked me about this, so...

April 08, 2019

Maybe We Need More Priests Like This Today

From North Texas Catholic, here's an amazing account of the life of Father Peter Anthony Levy,...

April 08, 2019

Video Spotlights Deacons in Annual Catholic Appeal

Here's something cool from the In My Backyard Desk. We showed this video this weekend...

April 07, 2019

WATCH: Sister Cristina Kicks Up Her Heels on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

An eagle-eyed reader sent these clips my way: the performance of the celebrated Sister Cristina...

April 07, 2019

What Was Jesus Writing on the Ground?

The Gospel for this Sunday brings us once again to the haunting encounter with the...

April 07, 2019

‘Unplanned’ Continues Box Office Winning Streak

The latest, from Carmel Communications: UNPLANNED continued to surprise industry experts, with a strong box office...

April 07, 2019

A Blessed Reminder: There is Kindness in the World

In the maelstrom of social media, it can be easy to forget that there are...

April 05, 2019

How Do You Fix the Seminaries?

The system needs reform, according to these authors in Commonweal, and they offer some ideas,...

April 04, 2019

‘My Friend Has Now Become My Bishop’

From Triple D, Deacon Doctor Bill Ditewig: Today, a man with whom I have prayed,...

April 04, 2019

‘Good Luck, God’: This Might Be the Greatest Obituary, Ever

Ladies and gentlemen, take a moment to pause and reflect on the life of Tim...

April 04, 2019

WATCH: Archdiocese of Washington Welcomes Archbishop Gregory

No one can say they didn't see this big announcement coming.The archdiocese has just posted...

April 04, 2019

It’s Official: Atlanta’s Wilton Gregory to be Archbishop of Washington

From the Vatican: The Holy Father Francis has appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Washington (USA) HE...

April 03, 2019

Beck Interviews Buttigieg About His Faith and Catholic Roots

While I knew he is a practicing Episcopalian, I wasn't aware that Pete Buttigieg was...

April 03, 2019

Break the Seal of the Confessional? Sex Abuse Victim Says: ‘It’s Time. It’s Beyond Time.’

Disturbing news unfolding in California: A procession of sexual assault victims on Tuesday urged the...

April 02, 2019

Priest Announces: ‘I Am Autistic’

A bold and brave admission from my friend and blog neighbor Father Matthew Schneider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=nHGPeGbheSY...

April 01, 2019

Ordination Update: 29 New Deacons for Austin

Kudos to the crackerjack communications team in the Diocese of Austin for getting this news...

April 01, 2019

This Looks Great: ‘Mary Magdalene’ Film Set for U.S. Release Before Easter

Check out the trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=142&v=TB8Vg5A-b2Y Some details: In the First Century A.D., the free-spirited...