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The Deacon's Bench

After many months of delay, Pope Benedict’s third encyclical arrives tomorrow. And at least one observer is asking: “Will anybody care?” In the days leading up to this week’s scheduled release of Pope Benedict XVI’s latest encyclical, there’s been a quickening of speculation about what it will say. We know the name: Caritas in Veritate…

My pal The Anchoress is telling Michael Jackson, in no uncertain terms, to “Beat it, already.” She’s had about enough of the endless coverage of his dying, his death, his post-death, and everything leading up to his funeral (which we’re still waiting to get over with.) As she notes, dryly: Are the cameras and the…

And now for something different: a brief Michael Jackson tribute, played as the postlude on the organ of the Trinity (Episcopal) Church on Wall Street in lower Manhattan. It’s a blending of “Beat It” and “ABC.” (A wave of the deacon’s sequined white glove to Mike Paulson at Articles of Faith.)

Sifting through old pictures I found the snapshot below. Walt Disney World. July 4th, 2006. It seemed like a good idea at the time. The crowd you see started to collect at about 4 in the afternoon, and it never let up. Wall-to-wall humanity. The picture was snapped around 8 pm, if I recall. Over…

As only the Muppets can… Happy Independence Day, one and all.

Technology and the Church: what a concept! Take a look at how some faith-filled Facebookers (and Twitterers) are sharing the Good News: Things went smoothly for the first hour of the Twitter experiment at Trinity Church in Manhattan on Good Friday in April. While hundreds of worshipers watched the traditional dramatization of the Crucifixion from…

I wasn’t aware that celebrated pitchman Billy Mays was Catholic, until I read this account of his funeral this morning: References to television pitchman Bill Mays’ trademark image were everywhere at his funeral Friday near Pittsburgh. Most mourners wore stickers showing a cartoon image of his distinctive bearded face. The six pallbearers eschewed suits and…

My mother grew up in a small town in South Jersey, named Pitman, not far from Philadelphia. It was the kind of place you passed through on your way to someplace else. It was pretty unremarkable – there was a Main Street, called Broadway, with a few stores, a bank, a movie theater and a…

Let us pray [for God’s blessing on our country]… Father of all nations and agesWe recall the day when our country claimed its place among the family of nations.For what has been achieved we give you thanks;for the work that still remains we ask your help.Grant that under your providenceour country may share your blessingswith…

What’s a good way to attract women to the religious life? How about this DVD: A San Bernardino Catholic production company is using DVDs to address a vexing problem for the Catholic Church: a severe and growing shortage of nuns. The half-hour DVD, which will be distributed nationwide by Wordnet Productions, features women talking about…
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