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March 2013

March 07, 2013

Deacon baptizes man on death row before scheduled execution

From the Georgia Bulletin: Warren Hill received the sacraments of the Catholic Church on Feb....

February 2013

February 25, 2013

What’s wrong with giving out blessings during communion? —UPDATED

Lots. Especially if the one doing the blessing is a lay person. Fr. Z rants...

January 2013

January 30, 2013

The truth about dishonesty—and how confession helps us change our behavior

A colleague at work said, "Hey, you should put this on your blog," and sent...

January 29, 2013

“A historic moment”: Catholic, Protestant churches agree to recognize each other’s baptisms

Details: Leaders of U.S. Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches will sign a historic agreement...

January 16, 2013

Vatican preparing guide for priests on how to celebrate Mass

This could have interesting ramifications, judging from the comments below. From Zenit: The Congregation for...

January 15, 2013

Speaking of altar rails…one priest’s experience

Fr. Jay Finelli of the Diocese of Providence stumbled on yesterday's post and recounted on...

January 14, 2013

I’ve changed my mind. It’s time to bring back the altar rail.

It's not about architecture. It's about attitude. I write about it here: Hey, I'm as...

January 13, 2013

Pope baptizes 20 babies in Sistine Chapel

Details: The frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel are ringing with the wails and coos...

January 13, 2013

Flu outbreak: Boston suspends using the cup

New York's governor has just declared that the flu this season has reached epidemic proportions: ...

January 13, 2013

The baptism of Jesus: “an act of radical identification with humanity”

On his Facebook page, Father James Martin, S.J., offers a snippet from his forthcoming book...

December 2012

December 10, 2012

One of the most commonly asked questions about communion…

I hear this a lot. "I've already received communion. Can I receive again?" No less...

December 05, 2012

Here come the Anglicans: Brooklyn ordains its first Ordinariate priest

My pastor, Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez, did the honors. Details, from the Brooklyn Tablet: When...

November 2012

November 17, 2012

That teenager who was denied Confirmation? There’s more to the story

The media firestorm has so far not included anything more than cursory comments from the...

November 13, 2012

Congratulations, George and Treasa!

FOB (Friend of the Bench) and assistant managing editor of the Catholic Review in Baltimore,...

November 13, 2012

A sacrament on the digital continent

A remarkable and utterly 21st century experience from Concord Pastor Fr. Austin Fleming: Yesterday afternoon...

July 2012

July 15, 2012

Come Holy Ghost: Class receives Sacrament of Confirmation in hospital with leukemia patient

A Texas reader sent this my way, describing it as "awesome" -- and she's right....

June 2012

June 29, 2012

Recovered: priest’s $6,000 stolen chalice

But in so many ways, it's not something you can put a price on. Details,...

June 16, 2012

Worth a thousand words: baptism!

I think this picture, posted by a friend on his FB page, says it all.

June 13, 2012

Worth a thousand words, First Communion edition

On Sunday, the day after his ordination, Deacon James Carper gives Rachel Elizabeth Fernandez First...

May 2012

May 26, 2012

UPDATE: Jail will now allow sacramental wine for Mass

After this story hit, the jail has decided to change its policy. Details: A temporary...

May 24, 2012

Chaplain removed for bringing wine into prison

It happened in South Carolina: For a quarter century, Monsignor Ed Lofton has served as...

May 15, 2012

Called to “the Office” of Marriage

Elizabeth Scalia -- briefly picking up her pen while still on hiatus from her cell...

March 2012

March 01, 2012

On denying communion: “How grave does a sin have to be?”

The Barbara Johnson story continues to stir debate -- including this item from the Washington...

February 2012

February 29, 2012

Full text: letter of apology to lesbian

From MSNBC: Comments are now closed.

February 29, 2012

The USCCB on communion: “We should be cautious when making judgments…”

Someone reminded me of this document, put out by the USCCB in 2006, which states:...

January 2012

January 17, 2012

Low-gluten hosts: the bread of life for those who can’t eat bread

An issue that is often overlooked in many parishes is now getting renewed attention --...

November 2011

November 09, 2011

“Communion under both kinds is…encouraged and is expected to be the norm”

That's the sentiment of Bishop Patrick McGrath of the Diocese of San Jose who, breaking...

October 2011

October 09, 2011

Madison joins Phoenix in limiting Communion under both kinds — UPDATED

Weeks after Phoenix moved to restrict use of the Precious Blood during Mass, it now...

October 06, 2011

Archbishop: no same sex marriages at West Point chapel

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" may be history, and same sex marriages may be legal in...

September 2011

September 25, 2011

The humbling experience of being an EMHC

After the recent decision in Phoenix, cutting back on distributing the Precious Blood at communion,...