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The Deacon's Bench

This story caught my attention for a variety of reasons — not least, because the event in question involved my old parish, where I served almost 40 years ago (gulp) as an altar boy. The archdiocese sponsors a special day for seminarians and their families, and this year it took place at St. Patrick’s, in…

The full transcript of this exchange should be interesting reading. But for now, we have to content ourselves with this account, via John Allen: Pope Benedict XVI told a group of priests yesterday that he was once “more severe” in terms of administering baptism and confirmation to ill-prepared or lukewarm candidates, but today he’s inclined…

I saw this item a week or so ago and kept meaning to post it, but other things intruded. It’s heartfelt, and hopeful, and sweetly romantic. Anyway: I’ll let the story speak for itself: World Youth Day 2008 will always be a meaningful memory for Anders C. Bergmann of St. George Parish at Patrick Air…

Will Barack Obama’s stand on abortion split Catholics? The New York Times ponders that very possibility: Sixteen years ago, the Democratic Party refused to allow Robert P. Casey Sr., then the governor of Pennsylvania, to speak at its national convention because his anti-abortion views, stemming from his Roman Catholic faith, clashed with the party’s platform…

With the gutted Atomic Bomb Dome in the background, hundreds of paper lanterns float on the Motoyasu River at a memorial service for the atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008. The western Japanese city marked the 63rd anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing on Wednesday. Photo: by Katsumi Kasahara /…

Or, actually, a little better than that. One in 837,617. “The Deacon’s Bench” is the 837,617th most visited website in the world. Or so says Alexa.com. I have no idea if that’s good or not. Drop by the site and see who the really big movers and shakers are. (Hint: YouPorn is ranked 35th.) H/T…

Last week, it seems, a certain television anchorwoman misidentified the location of next month’s GOP convention. And the other day, she issued an on-air apology — which is notable for (among other things) making a reference to the Apostle of the Gentiles: Katie Couric says “sorry,” St. Paul. On July 29, the CBS Evening News…

A friend sent this my way, and it’s a stunner. It’s a letter that was evidently written in 1995 by a nun who became pregnant after being raped by a Serb soldier in Yugoslavia. She is addressing her Mother Superior. How do you face pure evil? How do you go on living when your life…

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed some wonderful private retreats outside Atlanta, at the Trappist Monastery of the Holy Spirit, in Conyers. But that’s not the only Catholic house for spiritual seekers in the area. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this morning profiles the Jesuit’s counterpart: Outside, acres of hardwoods formed a majestic green cathedral. Sunlight dappled its…

For those who just can’t wait, the first parts of the new mass translation are now available online at the USCCB website. James Martin, S.J. takes note: The changes start at the very beginning of the Mass. In answer to the familiar “The Lord be with you,” the people will no longer say, “And also…
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