It took the theft of our church’s tabernacle for me to comprehend the sanctity of its contents.
Sacraments
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Heaven, hell and a baptism in the NICU
I did not expect that the first time I administered the sacrament of baptism would be at 2 a.m. in a hospital. And I could not have guessed it to have happened at the intersection of my vocations as both a Jesuit and a nurse.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis: Always, always forgive—and don’t put it off.
If there is “a person asking you for forgiveness, who are you to ask if he or she may or may not be sincere?” the pope said. “You take their word for it, and forgive. Always forgive.”
Posted inArts & Culture, Television
‘Killing Eve’ deserved better than a botched Christian conversion narrative and a cheap, shock-value ending
Despite its first three seasons of ambitious, campy, violent fun, “Killing Eve” lost its way in its final season with a failed conversion subplot and problematic treatment of queer characters.
Posted inFaith, News
First German Catholic diocese allows women to perform baptisms
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen has become the first in Germany to allow women to perform baptisms, citing a lack of priests.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Understanding the invalid baptism controversy: A guide for Catholics
While the church teaches that baptism is indeed necessary for salvation, God does not need us to complete a ritual in order to care for our children.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Why so many Catholics want to get their ashes—even if they rarely go to Mass
Ash Wednesday isn’t a holy day of obligation, but in English-speaking countries, it still has a powerful draw even for Catholics who are otherwise non-practicing.
Posted inFaith, News
After invalidly baptizing thousands, Arizona priest now performs a do-over of the sacrament
As the Rev. Andrés Arango poured holy water over the heads of a dozen people on Thursday evening, it represented the beginning of a new ministry for him: healing and helping those he invalidly baptized.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Arizona priest who invalidly baptized thousands defended by former parishioners in Brazil
Members of one of his former communities said they doubt that he used incorrect formulas for sacraments while he worked there, and many of them recall him fondly as one of the most important priests in their lives.
Posted inFaith, News
Thousands of baptisms presumed invalid due to one priest’s wording error
The Rev. Andres Arango’s error was in saying, “We baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” when he should have begun the sentence by saying, “I baptize you.”