“How do we treat those things which are sacred? We treat them with care, dignity and respect. The church calls us to do that with our mortal remains as well.”
Michael J. O’Loughlin
Michael J. O’Loughlin is national correspondent at America and author of Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics, and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Sanctions against Brebeuf Jesuit suspended as appeal process continues at Vatican
In an email sent Monday to the Brebeuf school community, William Verbryke, S.J., the school’s president, wrote, “We have just learned that the Congregation for Catholic Education has decided to suspend the Archbishop’s decree on an interim basis, pending its final resolution of our appeal.”
Posted inFaith, News
Former Albany bishop named among child abuse lawsuits as N.Y. ‘look back’ laws kick in
Among the dozens of priests named in new lawsuits is at least one bishop, the Most Rev. Howard Hubbard, who led the Diocese of Albany from 1977 to 2014. He is accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a 16-year-old in the 1990s.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
After ICE raids in Mississippi, Catholic Charities prepares for long-term impact
The near-term hardship “won’t hit for a week or two,” Bishop Kopacz said. But “as time goes on this month, there’s going to be some real crises.”
Posted inFaith, News
Indianapolis archbishop: Jesuit high school cannot hold schoolwide Masses
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School is appealing a decision by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson to strip it of its Catholic name because of its refusal to part ways with a teacher in a same-sex marriage.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Baltimore’s Archbishop Lori pushes back against Trump Twitter rant
“It saddens me to see Baltimore severely denigrated by President Trump,” the archbishop said. “Baltimore is near and dear to my heart. It is hometown to more than half a million people.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Jesuit House chaplain prays to expel ‘darker spirits’ from the U.S. Capitol
“This has been a difficult and contentious week in which darker spirits seem to have been at play in the people’s house,” Father Conroy said. “In your most holy name, I now cast out all spirits of darkness from this chamber, spirits not from you.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Religious leaders including James Martin, S.J., testify on global rise of hate crimes
Father James Martin was among the religious leaders testifying to members of the Helsinki Commission, which monitors human rights worldwide, about a surge in reported hate crimes.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Democrats continue to debate role of faith in 2020 campaign
Senator Chris Coons said Democrats choosing to ignore faith “hides away the deep, passionate and formative faith backgrounds of so many Democrats.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Signs emerge 2020 Democrats may court faith voters
During the debates, there was not much overt outreach to people of faith, with one exception: Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.