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The Deacon's Bench

In his book, “The Waters of Siloe,” Thomas Merton tells the true story of a French businessman in the months after World War II. The businessman had been born and raised Catholic. But he’d forgotten about his faith has he got older. During a business trip, he was checking into a Paris hotel late one…

What’s it like for a priest from Pennsylvania to become an archbishop in Kentucky? John Allen has a pretty interesting interview with Louisville’s Joseph Kurtz, in which he talks about southern Catholicism, the importance of vocations — he’s a real rainmaker in that department — preaching, and politicians: This is an election year, and once…

Many of us are familiar with the annual Red Mass, celebrated for lawyers, or the Blue Mass, for law enforcement officers. Now comes word of another color added to the liturgical rainbow: a Gold Mass. From the Catholic Standard in Washington: Shimmering gold and red vestments accompanied by heavenly voices contributed to a genuine sense…

One of the world’s most famous converts spoke recently about his faith and the importance of understanding other religions. Here’s the London Telegraph: Tony Blair spoke candidly of how studying other religions had strengthened his Catholic faith as he took part in a debate on faith and poverty in Los Angeles. The former British prime…

With the election galloping closer, Rocco has posted several worthy prayers for the days ahead, including one invoking the Man for All Seasons, St. Thomas Moore, patron of “statesmen, politicians, judges and lawyers”: Litany of St. Thomas More, Martyr and Patron Saint of Statesmen, Politicians and Lawyers V. Lord, have mercyR. Lord have mercyV. Christ,…

A survivor of clergy sex abuse has offered some provocative thoughts on where he believes the real danger lies today. From Florida Catholic: A couple of months ago, a reporter from a local paper called to get my opinion on a legal settlement concerning a victim of clergy abuse. As a survivor of clergy sexual…

For some months now, The Anchoress has been extolling the virtues of Mystic Monk Coffee — she sent some to me for a birthday present, and I have to agree: it’s superb! — but now it looks like the monks have some competition. Some Franciscan nuns are getting into the act: A Pittsburgh community of…

It was Tina Fey. It had to be. That’s the only explanation. As one blogger put it: “Please, please make it stop.”

“I didn’t know you were Catholic.” — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, during a White House meeting, September 25, 2008. Paulson had reportedly gotten down on one knee to beg Pelosi and other Democrats to keep negotiating a deal to rescue the economy.

How is the economic news playing across the religious spectrum? The Associated Press takes a gander this morning: In Parma, Ohio, an organizer for Barack Obama arrived at a recent “Catholic house party,” a campaign-sponsored chat about values, prepared to answer questions about abortion. The conversation instead lurched into the battered state of the local…
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