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The Deacon's Bench

That familiar line from a song from my youth ran through my head as I started to read this absorbing dissection (or vivisection?) of Fort Wayne, by Amy Welborn. She’s left the town, and moved south, and spends many paragraphs saying: “Good riddance.” Read it and see why. It’s a very good read.

Every preacher knows you can’t please everyone. And the Archbishop of Canterbury has just displeased a vocal group of Protestants with his homily yesterday at Lourdes. From CNS: Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, England, has come under fire for his homily during a pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuaries in Lourdes, France. Archbishop Williams, leader…

In what could be a historic development, Great Britain may be poised to make dramatic changes to the most famous monarchy on earth. From AFP: The British government is drawing up plans to end a 300-year-old exclusion of Catholics from the line of succession, as well as ending the priority given to male heirs, according…

This sort of news doesn’t often make national headlines — but it’s generating a lot of ink, and I can’t help but wonder if a predictable outcry will follow. Here’s how the Boston Globe is reporting it: St. Anthony Shrine has removed a gay Boston man from several lay leadership posts after he wrote a…

Earlier this month, I posted some links to Catholic voting guides. More have now joined the fray. Catholic Digest is offering a comprehensive overview for Catholics. And Priests for Life has a guide from a pro-life perspective. Check ’em out before you pull the lever! And I’ll try to add more as I learn of…

Regular readers may remember that The Deacon’s Wife and Your Humble Blogger spent several days back in June at Disney World. (My account of the trip can be read right here.) So imagine my horror when I read this news: “Is Mickey Mouse an agent of Satan?”. This is the question being asked today in…

Several days ago, I linked to a New York Times article about how the Catholic vote may be split this election year. This morning, two bishops — including my own — have responded in a Letter to the Editor: To the Editor: “Abortion Issue Again Dividing Catholic Votes” (front page, Sept. 17) says the bishops’…

I don’t know about you, but between the headlines and the plummeting value of my 401 (k), I could use a smile right about now. Hit it, gang! Enjoy. And if that’s not enough, there’s this, from the British version of “The Office”: Okay. Get back to work …

Just in time for the next Great Depression, a Catholic author has published a book about using money wisely. From CNA: Many in our society view money as a “necessary evil.” Instead, entrepreneur and author, Frank Hanna explains, “money is a gift from God that is frequently abused because of our lack of understanding of…

Today marks the feast of St. Pio, Padre Pio — and the 40th anniversary of his death. Padre Pio has, in a remarkably short time, become one of the most popular and beloved saints in the Roman canon. Below is a beautiful prayer composed by the saint, to be recited after receiving the Eucharist. But…
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