Author: John Schultz

Someone look over this article about permanent deacons in India and let me know if I’m nuts.
First, the article says, “For the first time in the history of the church in India, laymen will be allowed to perform the functions of a full-fledged priest, except for conducting mass and hearing confessions.”
Permanent deacons are not considered laymen after ordination, right?
The next one is a real groaner: “Married men who take up the vocation are expected to embrace the vow of celibacy.” Wouldn’t the word “chastity” be more appropriate? It’s probably just an issue of a Hindu journalist being less familiar with Catholic teaching and terminology.

A sad story of a priest who left the Church to join up with folks who want Catholic sacramental trappings but none of the doctrinal baggage and moral responsibility of the actual Truth. The priest’s heresy conviction means he’ll be officially defrocked.
Here’s how the journalist contrasted Catholic church teaching to the gentlemen’s new gig:

His denomination considers itself Catholic in the sense of celebrating its sacraments. But it does not believe in the infallibility of the pope and permits married and female clergy. It also permits same-sex unions and holds more liberal views than the Vatican on divorce and birth control.

So after that night and day laundry list, his new denomination is “more liberal?” Winner – understatement of the week.

Full article here.

Hardly a resounding condemnation of the Venezualean Cardinal’s remarks I posted recently.
The Nuncio does have a point that “no religious act should be turned into a political one.” Yet, isn’t that the same retort that “Catholics” who are pro-choice throw at priests who are strong enough to preach about the evils of abortion and that Catholics should remember that when they vote?

Finish this headline:
“US Catholic Worker Community Draws Spotlight on…”
a) Appalachian Coal Mine Safety
b) Lack of Increases in the Minimum Wage
c) Walmart’s Unfair Business Practices
d) Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility
e) All of the above
If you guessed E, you’d probably be right.
But the actual article is about d.
So is it unjust to hold 500 enemy combatants? That’s just 1/5 of the people who were actually killed on 9/11. And it turns out that “Some former Guantanamo detainees have become fighters in Pakistan — or rejoined the armed struggle in Afghanistan — since their release.” [source]

I used to work on the same block as St. Joe’s in Old Town Alexandria. I made it to the early morning Mass there a handful of times.
Apparently today is a big day at that parish, since it was founded nearly 90 years ago to serve the African-american community in that area.

The pulsing gospel beat had Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde clapping his hands and singing along at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alexandria. …more