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The Deacon's Bench

Turns out, Billy Joel didn’t tell the whole story.  The fire actually began on Pentecost.  So: check out this interp of a classic, courtesy the indispensable New Advent and New Zealand’s Liturgy blog.   For those deacon candidates studying Church History, this is a priceless primer.  For the rest of us, it’s just a lot…

Photo: by Michael Clancy Many of us have seen it, but few of us have heard the story behind this iconic photo of a fetus clutching a doctor’s finger. But the man who took the picture wants the story to be told — and has become a passionate advocate for life.  The Catholic Standard in…

The pope greeted the new U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican today:   Welcoming the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI outlined wide areas of potential cooperation with the administration of President Barack Obama, but drew a sharp line on the issues of abortion and the rights of conscience.  The pope called for…

Washington’s Catholic lawmakers will celebrate the annual Red Mass this Sunday, and a producer at CNN looks at some of the history behind this event:  The beautifully ornate Catholic church in the nation’s capital has seen its share of history and controversy. In 1963, the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle was the site of…

And they said it wouldn’t last.   I’m marking my first week here at Beliefnet, after two years at my previous address, and so far, so good.  I haven’t broken anything, and the Pope hasn’t called to complain.    I’d say we’re off to a great start.  If you’re new here, welcome!  Last week, I…

Those who are looking for “The Deacon’s Bench” can now find it at Beliefnet, the large (and growing) spiritual website. Change your bookmarks! My new URL: http://blog.beliefnet.com/deaconsbench/ Come by and visit!

A new movie about Fatima, “The 13th Day”, is to be released later this year, and screenings have been announced in several major American cities. If you’re curious, the movie’s trailer is below. You can also visit its website.

Most of us are used to them these days, but that doesn’t mean we have to love microphones during mass.  The Catholic Register up in Canada gives this issue some amplification:   If every modern church has a box full of microphones and a covey of speakers perched around the sanctuary, why do so many…

From a paper in Minnesota comes this profile of new deacon, who has a remarkable story to tell:  After six years of prayerful study, Vern Behrends recently preached his first homily at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington, beginning with the story about a guy who receives a traffic ticket resulting from a stoplight camera…

We’re accustomed to defending all forms of free speech in this country.  But a Vatican archbishop is drawing a line in the sand:     While the freedom of expression is a right, states are not obliged to protect expression that incites hatred and tramples upon other people’s rights, a Vatican official said. The Vatican’s…
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