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December 2018

December 26, 2018

Historic: Muslim Iraq makes Christmas Day a national holiday

For a country that is overwhelmingly Muslim, with only a small minority of Christians, this...

December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas: that priest is a fake

You hear about these things from time to time, but I've never heard of an...

December 25, 2018

‘Make of our hearts a manger…’

Christmas Eve, I was invited to offer the invocation at the annual Forest Hills Christmas...

December 24, 2018

Anticipating the next chapter: Reflection for Monday, December 24, 2018

Probably the most memorable Christmas Eve I can recall was the night I proposed to...

December 24, 2018

Shock: Brooklyn priest kills himself days before Christmas

Details: A Brooklyn priest killed himself inside a church rectory less than two weeks before...

December 23, 2018

Ross Douthat on staying Catholic at Christmas

The New York Times columnist (and convert) offers a hope-filled and eloquent testimony of faith...

December 22, 2018

Carrying Christ: reflection for Sunday December 23, 2018, 4th Sunday of Advent

This could be one of the great, defining questions of Advent, when an astonished Elizabeth...

December 22, 2018

Married bishops in China?!

Amid all the controversy surrounding the Vatican's new relationship with China, this detail is one...

December 22, 2018

This version of ‘Silent Night’ can still move me to tears

I grew up hearing this rendition by the immortal Maurice Chevalier, sung in English and...

December 22, 2018

Priest apologizes for funeral homily: ‘I added to their pain. I deeply regret that and I am sorry.’

From CNS: A Michigan priest criticized for emphasizing suicide in his homily during a recent...

December 22, 2018

Surprising story behind one of the most famous Christmas solos in the world

The good people at the BBC have put together a documentary on the legendary King's...

December 22, 2018

Senators question judiciary nominee over membership in ‘extreme’ Knights of Columbus

Details: Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have questioned a candidate for the federal bench...

December 21, 2018

Shattered: a plea from a parish hit by Alaska earthquake

Yesterday, I received an email from Deacon Jim Lee, from Eagle River, Alaska. His parish...

December 20, 2018

How can you preach at a funeral for someone who has committed suicide? Like this.

After all the controversy swirling around the funeral homily for a young man in Detroit,...

December 20, 2018

For 13 years, they knew: why are we only hearing the story of this L.A. bishop now?

The Los Angeles Times has the details: The Archdiocese of Los Angeles knew for at...

December 20, 2018

Caught on tape: Thief stealing instruments from Queens Catholic church

From the In My Backyard Desk, some news from a historic parish, the first in...

December 20, 2018

Cuba to dedicate its first new Catholic church in 60 years

And it was done, in large part, because of a parish in Florida. Details: Religious...

December 20, 2018

Bombshell: Illinois AG says Catholic Church failed to disclose hundreds of abuse allegations against priests

Via The New York Times: The Catholic Church in Illinois withheld the names of at...

December 19, 2018

Los Angeles auxiliary bishop resigns following accusation of abuse

From CNS: Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of 69-year-old Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar of...

December 19, 2018

Funeral homily backlash: ‘We pull off funerals well, but we don’t do a good job preparing people for them’

Slate takes a look at of the controversy surrounding that homily delivered at the funeral...

December 18, 2018

Report: commission on women deacons submitted ‘a brief document’ to pope

I get asked this question a lot: "What's happening with the commission on women deacons?"...

December 18, 2018

WATCH: Meet the official Santa of Jerusalem — and his camel

This is awesome: He has a certificate from Santa School in Denver, Colorado, but Issa...

December 18, 2018

Pope: ‘Political addresses that blame every evil on migrants are unacceptable’

From CNS: In today's climate of mistrust, rejection and nationalism, the world urgently needs peacemakers...

December 17, 2018

Now, THIS is Christmas

Here's a blast from the past. Growing up, this was the soundtrack of Christmas. I...

December 17, 2018

Must-read: the headline-making homily delivered after a young man’s suicide

Ed Peters has the scoop: If the text recently sent to me really was the homily that Fr....

December 17, 2018

How one priest is trying to increase Mass attendance

After reading the diocesan report of slumping Mass attendance, what is a priest to do?...

December 17, 2018

In Puerto Rico, Wendy’s has the Holy Family on its cups

The Friendly Atheist takes note of a little detail that some might consider a Christmas...

December 16, 2018

Archbishop Hebda restricts public ministry of his predecessor, Nienstedt

The archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Bernard Hebda, posted a letter on the matter...

December 16, 2018

Bambinelli Sunday: Homily for December 16, 2018, Gaudete Sunday

Well, this was different. Before Mass today, one of the priests was casting about for...

December 15, 2018

Fr. Jim Sichko’s generous mission of mercy: ‘I’m a beggar for Christ’

I've posted stories about this tireless priest in the past — most recently, about his...