CATHOLIC NEWS: Che Gioia: For 2010 Laetare, Poetry Trumps Politics... PLUS 11 MORE

CATHOLIC NEWS: Che Gioia: For 2010 Laetare, Poetry Trumps Politics... PLUS 11 MORE

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Che Gioia: For 2010 Laetare, Poetry Trumps Politics

Posted: 14 Mar 2010 07:43 AM PDT

Topping the news on this Laetare Sunday, the winner of the Stateside church's most prestigious prize is a first: an American Catholic poet. And an appointee of the last administration, to boot. This morning, the University of Notre Dame announced that Dana Gioia will receive the Laetare Medal at the Golden Dome's 16 May commencement. Instituted in 1883...

On Mercy

Posted: 14 Mar 2010 07:36 AM PDT

The media-storm of European abuse might be rattling the Vatican cages in these days... but at B16's first emergence since Friday's report of a case from the Munich archdiocese during his five years at its helm (and the Pope's meeting on the crisis with the president of the German bishops)...

Sunday cartoon: Calvin & Hobbes on Original Sin

Posted: 14 Mar 2010 07:00 AM PDT

Full-size here.

Ruling: "under God" is constitutional

Posted: 14 Mar 2010 05:08 AM PDT

For some reason, this bit of news didn't get much attention, but it's worth noting: The Pledge of Allegiance, with its inclusion of the words "under God," is constitutional, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday (March 11), reversing a previous ruling. The 2-1 ruling answers a challenge by California atheist Michael Newdow...

Pondering the Prodigal Parable

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 08:53 PM PST

Some thoughts on today's Gospel of the Prodigal Son: The Gospel is overly familiar. We know it so well that we tend to tune it out when it's opening lines dawn on our ears. But this is a signal to listen with the heart. To focus on a detail or two we may have ignored before...

The Prodigal Son in F Major

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 08:52 PM PST

You may well have seen this elsewhere. There are several versions floating around. But here is the story of the Prodigal Son stick on the letter "F" Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the farthings and flew to foreign fields and frittered his fortune, feasting fabulously with faithless...

The Value of a Good "Mea Culpa"

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 10:12 PM PST

Reposted, by request, from 2007: It's struck me for a while, now, that we Catholics, who begin each Mass with a Penitential Rite meant to free us from the lesser - not grievous or mortal - sins, have been short-changing ourselves by our choice in how we do it. In most parishes today...

Scanning the NYTs headlines

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 01:45 PM PST

Here is a question for GetReligion readers and other consumers of mainstream news. Does the name "James Pouillon" ring any bells for you? There's a chance that it will, since this was the man who was gunned down last September as he sat, in his wheelchair, protesting against abortion in front of Owosso High School in Michigan.

"It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck..."

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 02:00 AM PST

"... and he were thrown into the sea than that he should scandalize one of these little ones" (Luke 17:2). Ten years of accusations, trials, and sentences for pedophilia among the clergy. An interview with Charles J. Scicluna, promoter of justice for the congregation for the doctrine of the faith. From "Avvenire," March 13...

The Priestly Day..

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 08:59 PM PST

Some wonder why I post Nun News but so little on priests. Probably because I'm a girl, but I do take a great interest in men's vocations, too, and I pray for the Pope and every priest and deacon I know, every day, and for more priests, of course. But here's some priest/friar/brother/deacon stuff for you...

The Vatican's DA on sex abuse: 'False and slanderous charge against the pope'

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 11:06 AM PST

Amid Germany's mounting sexual abuse crisis, which threatens to engulf not only the pope's brother but potentially Benedict XVI's record as Archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1981, the Vatican took the rare step yesterday of making its chief sex abuse "prosecutor" available for an on-the-record interview. Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna...

"One Step Closer"

Posted: 13 Mar 2010 09:19 AM PST

With sin and scandal dominating the headlines these days, seems a good time to recall those who've done things right. In recent days, movement's been reported on two causes of sainthood on these shores. And in a unique twist, both have a special import for the nation's African-American Catholics -- a contingent estimated at some 3 million souls. First...