03.27.2018
Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich blesses young people March 23 before they headed to Washington for the March for Our Lives event the next day. (CNS/Karen Callaway) Question for readers: Did a similar blessing happen anywhere else in the USA? If yes, please let me know.
Pray and reflect during Holy Week using Scripture commentaries, articles, art and graphics from Celebration, National Catholic Reporter and Global Sisters Report. Visit all the resources on the Celebration page.
NCR and its sister publications offer quite a few resources for Lent (and when appropriate, the Easter season):
- Start your day inspired with daily Scripture reflections. Join NCR's sister publication, Celebration, for Daily Bread, a series of short reflections written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings.
- Or reflect on Pencil Preaching by Pat Marrin. Every morning Pat Marrin breaks open the Word with a pencil sketch and a short meditation.
"Rarely in my lifetime have I seen the type of civic engagement schoolchildren and their supporters demonstrated in Washington and other major cities throughout the country this past Saturday. These demonstrations demand our respect. They reveal the broad public support for legislation to minimize the risk of mass killings of schoolchildren and others in our society." Repeal the Second Amendment, says John Paul Stevens, retired associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Note to readers: See question in caption of photo above.
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan's charge in the Wall Street Journal that the Democratic Party has abandoned Catholics in favor of an abortion agenda raised a few eyebrows. This is what Michael Sean Winters thinks.
UNITED NATIONS -- At the end of two weeks of meetings that drew women from throughout the world, the U.N. women's commission agrees on measures to empower rural women and girls
MELBOURNE -- Australian police set up a task force targeting Cardinal George Pell before formal allegations of historical sexual offenses were made, a court heard on Wednesday at a hearing to decide if the Vatican Treasurer will face trial on the charges. The case is expected to close on Holy Thursday and the magistrate to rule several weeks after that.
Tomorrow is Holy Thursday, and foot-washing is part of the Catholic tradition:
- ROME -- During a Holy Week ritual meant to show his willingness to serve others, Pope Francis will wash the feet of 12 inmates at Rome's central prison, including those in the special "protected" wing where sexual predators are housed.
- MANILA -- Fr. Teresito "Chito" Soganub will be one of 12 people whose feet Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will wash Holy Thursday. Soganub, who was held hostage for 116 days during the terrorist siege of Marawi City last year, will join migrants, refugees and other displaced people during Mass at Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.
And don't forget that a 2016 Vatican decree OKed washing women's feet in the Holy Week ritual, a practice that a survey by FutureChurch found largely already happens regularly anyway.
As we gather for the Triduum this year, let's remember Syria: Syrian Christians feel like strangers in their own country
Taking some spiritual exercise: Walking the labyrinth in Lent
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Did you see this story from earlier? Archbishop Lori calls for renewed focus on Rev. King's call to nonviolence
Yesterday we noted that the Commerce Department wanted a question about citizenship in the 2020 Census (Something we reported on in January: Catholic organizations oppose adding a question about citizenship to census,) Today we can report that at least 12 states signaled Tuesday that they would sue to block the Trump administration from adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 census, arguing that the change would cause fewer Americans to be counted and violate the Constitution.
John Bolton’s appointment as national security adviser does not require Senate confirmation. That doesn’t mean Congress is powerless to check warmongering, writes John Nichols. (This site may require registration.)
Last week you read about the Vatican's communications czar resigning because of the Benedict letter scandal. Well, the fallout is spreading: Benedict XVI criticism of theologian revives image of 'panzer cardinal' Retired pope's letter sparks speculation over what role he is playing at the Vatican during his retirement. (This site may require registration.)
I don't know why American political conservatives take so much interest in our pope. This is from the National Review. No, the Vatican's "Lettergate" Scandal Was Not an "Unforced Error"
