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The Deacon's Bench

Last year, I posted this eye-popping story about a man who sued a priest over a homily. Now, an alert reader has sent me an update: An Algonquin man will get a formal apology, but no financial reward, as part of an out-of-court settlement entered this morning ending his lawsuit claiming a parish priest defamed…

“I am my own worst enemy. I have always feared failure in the vocation. But I know if I keep up my end of the bargain, I have no reason to believe that God is going to let me down.” — Deacon Angelo Bartulica, soon to be Father Bartulica, describing his vocation journey in The…

When it comes to Christmas trees, some of us are still trying to untangle the lights and keep the dog from lifting his leg on the trunk. But those wise souls at the Vatican are already thinking ahead to what they’ll do with the pope’s Christmas tree when the holidays are over: Although news reports…

This ad popped up on NET tonight and I thought it was too good not to share. Enter the story! You can find out more about the people behind the ad right here.

Some of you by now may have heard about the cover of Mexico’s Playboy magazine. To wit: A nude model resembling the Virgin Mary on the cover of the Mexican edition of Playboy magazine, published only days before a major Mexican festival dedicated to the mother of Jesus, prompted the company’s U.S. headquarters on Friday…

…your state has a Santa like no other. We see Santa all the time at malls, but most of us have never seen one quite like this, in Virginia, just outside Washington. From the Arlington Catholic Herald: It’s a sight to see: a real, live Santa Claus on his knees, hands folded, inclining his head…

‘Tis the season. My little hometown paper — the New York Times — had a nice piece this weekend about a little hometown tradition — a massive and meticulously detailed nativity display in the beautiful borough of Brooklyn. Coincidentally, it’s at my pastor’s home parish. Take a look: When an Italian immigrant asked the pastor…

I regret that I missed this last night: a new documentary on Thomas Merton that aired on PBS. (I think I’ve seen the DVD advertised, however…) Here’s a brief clip, with words by Merton, about his first “hermitage” — a ramshackle shed that was more beautiful to him than a cathedral.

The current economic woes seem to bear out the old idea that tough times can lead to crowded pews. (There are no atheists in foxholes and all that). From Sunday’s New York Times: The sudden crush of worshipers packing the small evangelical Shelter Rock Church in Manhasset, N.Y. — a Long Island hamlet of yacht…

I know this Sunday is supposed to be one of rejoicing. But for some among us, it is a day for remembering. And reckoning. The Anchoress has just posted this eloquent tribute to a life many might not have noticed — including the sad person who lived it, her brother: John never demanded notice. Likely…
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