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The Deacon's Bench

Anyone weary of the incessant productions — and incessant debate — over “The Vagina Monologues” can take heart. Someone has produced a fitting counterpoint: A play created by a member of a Minnesota theater company aims to be an alternative to “The Vagina Monologues,” a popular campus play but one that is often criticized for…

Pope Benedict visits survivors of the devastating earthquake in L’Aquila. You can read more about it here. PHOTO:  from Sky News

From Christian Today: Cardinal Paul Newman, a protestant who converted to Roman Catholicism in the 19th century is closer to becoming the next English person to be made a saint by the Vatican. A group of theological consultors agreed that the unexplained healing of an American man, who was suffering from a severe spinal disorder,…

A new study looks for answers, and Michael Paulson, over at Articles of Faith, has a good wrapup: Americans are changing their religious affiliations at unprecedented rates, but Catholics are much more likely to cite concerns about their religion as a reason for leaving than are Protestants, who more often cite changing life circumstances. The…

A huge h/t to Amy Welborn, who zapped this item to me moments ago…part of a fax that Mary Ann Glendon has sent to the president of Notre Dame: Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would…

That familiar line from “Seinfeld” seems apt, as the Vatican prepares to welcome the beatification of that other Newman, John Henry. From Whispers: A panel of theological consultors agreed unanimously that the inexplicable healing of an American man who was “bent double” by a severe spinal disorder came as a result of praying to Newman…

Some weeks back, I posted a picture of a huge men’s rally of the Holy Name Society, dating from the 1930’s. I posed the question, “Could you imagine this happening today?” Well, in fact, something similar just did, albeit on a smaller scale: His traditional robes set him aside from the others. But Daniel Jenky’s…

Does it seem like there are suddenly more atheists around? It may just be that they’re being more vocal about it. The New York Times religion reporter Laurie Goodstein has the scoop: Two months after the local atheist organization here put up a billboard saying “Don’t Believe in God? You Are Not Alone,” the group’s…

Well, there they go again. A New Jersey woman this weekend took part in a ceremony in which she says she was ordained a Catholic priest. From the Newark Star-Ledger: Last July, Mary Ann Schoettly was automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church after a ceremony that she says made her a deacon — a ceremony…

A deacon in my diocese sent this my way: more on the swirling Carrie Prejean controversy. She was given a warm welcome Sunday at her local church: Miss California Carrie Prejean, who became the bombshell of the Miss USA pageant by saying gay couples should not be allowed to marry, said Sunday that her state…
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