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The Deacon's Bench

This story is causing a small stir in Britain, where it’s raising questions about religious tolerance, Christian persecution — and whether the story is being blown out of proportion. Here’s the BBC’s take: A Devon primary school has denied it was being anti-Christian by admonishing a five-year-old pupil for talking about God to another girl…

That seems to be some of the reaction up in Beantown, at the venerable Boston College. Take a look: Some Boston College professors and students are raising a holy ruckus over the Catholic school’s return to its religious roots by hanging crucifixes in all its classrooms, calling the move “offensive” and a break from the…

For those who may have missed it, MCPF’s insightful analysis of that question, and some others: The Colbert ReportMon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Yahweh or No Way – The Super Bowl Colbert Report Full EpisodesFunny Political News Christian Bale ParodyJoke of the Day

Over at New Advent, Kevin Knight has linked to this neat story, about the origins of some of the most familiar and popular Muppet characters. But for me, the hidden gem is at the bottom, where the post offers a video from the memorial service for Jim Henson. It’s poignant and charming and sweet and…

Ah, memories … A former colleague from my days at CBS has penned this little reminiscence of life at the Eye Web. A snip: What had been the finest broadcast news organization has devolved into what employess there describe as the most disorganized and least motivated place to work in any of the network news…

A cheerful wave of the deacon’s stole to Doc Mac, who reminds us that today marks a little milestone in broadcast history, when Fulton Sheen made his TV debut. The good doctor quotes one writer who described the archbishop’s appeal thusly: He was elegant, elevated, relaxed, often very funny. Only Jack Benny could top Sheen’s…

Everything’s up to date in Kansas City — and they’re reporting a surge in seminarians there. This comes from the Catholic Key, the archdiocesan paper: Abbot Gregory Polan of Conception Abbey led nearly 700 voices in a round of “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” at the Downtown Marriot January 30. “We bless and we…

Over at Googling God, Mike Hayes has discovered one of the hazards of blogging. Which is, of course, the comments box. Mike has posted one angry (and semi-literate) comment — which attacks, quote, “THE WATERED DOWN CUMBYA FEELY FEELY LEFTIST YUM YUM LIBERAL CATHOLICISM — along with his response. As I mentioned here, while some…

Don’t try this during Lent. A sloppy Joe ladled onto a Krispy Kreme donut for a bun. That and so much more that’s bad for you can be found here.

Some heartening news from one war-ravaged corner of the planet: people are returning to the Church: Although armed conflict in Kosovo ended nearly a decade ago, the capital city still feels like a place hit recently by war or natural disaster. Electricity goes out often, water is strictly rationed, U.N. jeeps are ubiquitous and people…
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