CATHOLIC NEWS: Commissioner seen as likely outcome of Legionary investigation... PLUS 11 MORE

CATHOLIC NEWS: Commissioner seen as likely outcome of Legionary investigation... PLUS 11 MORE

Link to New Advent

Commissioner seen as likely outcome of Legionary investigation

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 12:24 AM PDT

As a Vatican-sponsored investigation of the Legionaries of Christ reaches its end-game, the leading hypothesis in Rome appears to be that Pope Benedict XVI may appoint a special "commissioner" to lead the order through a period a reform. The appointment would, in effect...

I understand the urge, but …

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 06:47 PM PDT

Trust me, I understand that for many religious leaders — some on the left, but armies on the doctrinal right — it feels good to unleash a holy flood of anger at the mainstream press from time to time. Frankly, I am amazed that newsrooms don't get picketed every now and then by people with incense and holy water. This temptation may be growing...

How Fr. Maciel built his empire

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 04:06 PM PDT

Rome in 1946, following World War II, was in an economic shambles when an obscure young priest with deep pockets arrived seeking meetings with Vatican officials. The scion of a provincial Mexican aristocracy, Marcial Maciel Degollado had been a priest only two years, yet when a cameraman filmed his ordination he was already leading his own religious order...

The Thing that Used to Be Conservative Christianity meets a saint

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 03:15 PM PDT

Here's the theology background for the "Christianity means kicking somebody's ass--hard!" crowd: "In Revelation (the last book of the New Testament), Jesus is a prize-fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is the guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper...

Mt. Rainier, Puyallup and Defrocking

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 03:22 PM PDT

One of the ways that Out of Staters periodically embarrass themselves when they visit Washington (the New England of the West Coast) is by making casual knowing references to things they know little about. So, for instance, when somebody insouciantly declares that they are going to take a drive out to "Renyay" or visit "Poo yall up" Washingtonians smile cryptically and look at th.

Shame on the press corps for this papal feeding frenzy..

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 01:36 PM PDT

I do not "blame" the media for the sex abuse crisis and I do blame the Vatican for doing such a horrendous job of answering the current questions and for seeing themselves as the victim. Nonetheless, I believe the press corps is guilty of shoddy reporting. The documents in the Oakland case are no "smoking gun" but they are presented as such.

Gender issues reach new levels of insanity in Maine

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 01:07 PM PDT

By Mary DeTurris Poust Just when you thought the world couldn't get any crazier, someone in Maine opens the door to a whole new kind of crazy. The Maine Human Rights Commission has issued guidelines that will ban schools in that state from "enforcing gender divisions" through such out-dated and outrageous things like having separate bathrooms and locker rooms for boys and girls.

New L.A. leader described as conservative but practical

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 01:37 PM PDT

Article Details Paving the way for America's first Latino cardinal, the Vatican announced April 6 that Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio has been named a coadjutor in Los Angeles, meaning that he will eventually succeed Cardinal Roger Mahony as leader of the archdiocese's 4.3 million Catholics, the largest in the country in terms of population.

Not with the program

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 11:46 AM PDT

Is Benedict XVI a "better Pope" than John Paul II? A couple views and then Fr. Z really rants

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 09:41 AM PDT

The Holy Spirit probably does not choose Popes. As Joseph Ratzinger explained before his own election, the Holy Spirit guides the choice of a Pope, or a Council for that matter, so that we don't inflict irreparable damage on ourselves. Each pope comes to the See of Peter with his own strengths. Hell's Bible, the New York Times...

The Celibacy Lecture

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 09:21 AM PDT

My husband was working with the Scouts this weekend and the church scandals came up. One woman said, "if the Catholics did not insist on a celibate priesthood…" My husband, a quiet sort, answered as he worked, "the Scouts have had their share of sex-abuser scoutmasters; none of them were celibate priests."

The Jesus We'll Never Know

Posted: 12 Apr 2010 11:48 AM PDT

Why scholarly attempts to discover the 'real' Jesus have failed. And why that's a good thing.