Medal of Honor for Hero Priest?

Posted by Tom McFeely

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 11:51 AM

Father Emil Kapaun

According to The Associated Press, outgoing Army Secretary Pete Geren has endorsed awarding a posthumous Medal of Honor to Korean War chaplain Father Emil Kapaun.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also endorsed awarding the nation’s highest military honor to Father Kapaun, who died in a Chinese prisoner of war camp after being captured seven months earlier while... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under father emil kapaun

Bishop Fellay Remains Intransigent

Posted by Tom McFeely

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:26 AM

A full restoration of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X to union with Rome does not appear imminent, if a recent interview given by the society’s superior general is any guide.

The Reuters FaithWorld blog has posted excerpts from the interview Bishop Bernard Fellay conducted with the Tradition magazine published by the SSPX in South Africa. His comments are significant, as the Vatican... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under bishop fellay, society of st. pius x

Better Than Bingo Night

Posted by Tom McFeely

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:36 PM

Father Andrew Trapp (CNS)

Father Andrew Trapp, parochial vicar at St. Michael Church in Garden City, S.C., has won $100,000 on Fox TV’s new “Pokerstars Million Dollar Challenge.”

The poker-playing priest plans to go “all in” with his winnings, by donating them to towards construction of a new parish church, Catholic News Service reports here. And courtesy of his victory, Father Trapp is now in the running to compete... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under father andrew trapp, poker

We Don’t Kidnap Imams

Posted by Tom McFeely

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:03 PM

Father Michael Sinnott (CNS/Reuters)

One of the ongoing difficulties of dialogue with Islam is that there is a very fundamental disconnect between the behavior of people who are highly animated by their Christian faith, and the actions undertaken by a substantial number of committed Muslims.

This has been reaffirmed once again last weekend by the kidnapping in the southern Philippines of a 79-year-old Irish missionary priest,... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under christian persecution, islam

Suri Cruise at Catholic School

Posted by Tom McFeely

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 12:02 PM

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and their daughter Suri. (Reuters)

In response to pressure from his wife, Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise reportedly has allowed the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Suri, to attend a Catholic preschool in Massachusetts.

Cruise is a high-profile member of the controversial Scientology sect.

According to a report published Oct. 13 by the Daily Mail, Suri has been enrolled at the Catholic Charities Yawkey Center for Early Education and... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under katie holmes, scientology, suri holmes, tom cruise

A Very Political Nobel Prize

Posted by Tom McFeely

Friday, October 09, 2009 9:18 AM

Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, holds a picture of President Obama Oct. 9. (Reuters)

The selection of President Barack Obama as this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize is a most peculiar choice, given how briefly he has been president and how little he has done in concrete terms to advance the cause of peace since assuming office.

Given this paucity of tangible accomplishments in the cause of peace, it’s impossible not to conclude that the Nobel selectors were... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under barack obama, nobel peace prize

Bishops to Congress: Drop Abortion from Health-Care Reform

Posted by Tom McFeely

Friday, October 09, 2009 8:40 AM

Here is the text of a letter sent Oct. 8 to all members of Congress by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Dear Member of Congress:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we are writing to express our disappointment that progress has not been made on the three priority criteria for health care reform that we have conveyed previously to Congress. In fact,... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under health care reform, u.s. bishops

Cardinal Newman Society: Boston College Required to Provide Contraceptives

Posted by Tom McFeely

Friday, October 09, 2009 8:22 AM

In an amended press release issued today, the Cardinal Newman Society acknowledged it omitted some important relevant facts in reporting this week that Boston College’s student health plan covers contraception.

The amended press release states,

Since releasing this report, we have learned that Massachusetts state law requires insurers to provide coverage for contraceptive drugs when other... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under boston college, cardinal newman society

A Tale of Two Colleges

Posted by Tom McFeely

Thursday, October 08, 2009 1:06 PM

The Cardinal Newman Society has reported that Boston College’s student health plan includes coverage for “family planning services,” including contraception.

Here’s an excerpt from the Cardinal Newman Society’s Oct. 7 press release about the matter:

“Contraception and birth control services are explicitly covered under the student health plan, Blue Care Elect Preferred (PPO), which is... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under belmont abbey college, boston college, catholic identity

Bosnian Cardinal: Vatican Will Release Medjugorje Directive

Posted by Tom McFeely

Wednesday, October 07, 2009 2:47 PM

Pilgrims flock around a statue of Mary at Medjugorje. (Reuters)

In an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Vrhbosna,  president of the bishops’ conference of Bosnia, said he expects the Vatican will soon release a directive — perhaps before the end of this year — that will address the Marian apparitions that allegedly are occurring at Medjugorje.

Go here to access the article posted at Reuters’ FaithWorld blog about the matter.... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under medjugorje, vatican