Analysis: the message of new encyclical is no one is saved alone (Vatican News) The path Pope Francis indicates is founded on Jesus’s message that destroys every perception of the other as a stranger. In fact, every Christian is called to discover “Christ in each human being, recognizing him crucified in the sufferings of the abandoned and forgotten of our world, and risen in each brother or sister who” who gets back on their feet. The message of fraternity is one that can be accepted, understood and shared both by men and women who believe in other faiths, as well as the many women and men who are unbelievers…
Vatican: Pope Benedict approved accord with China (AP) The Vatican doubled down Saturday on its intent to pursue continued dialogue with China over bishop nominations, defending a deal it did with the Chinese government in 2018 as necessary to the life of the Catholic Church there, over strong U.S. objections. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin insisted that popes as far back as Pius XII had tried to reopen a path of dialogue with Beijing after the communists came to power and expelled foreign missionaries. And he confirmed that Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI had approved the draft accord that the Vatican under Pope Francis eventually signed in 2018…
Catholics in Philadelphia rally for a hospitalized Trump (The Philadelphia Inquirer) A group of about 75 mostly Catholic supporters of President Donald Trump’s gathered Sunday in South Philadelphia for an anti-abortion rally, the Trump campaign’s first event in the city since the president contracted the coronavirus and was hospitalized. Randall Terry, an anti-abortion activist who has been leading a “Stop Biden Express” bus tour, asked the crowd to implore their Catholic friends not to vote for the Democratic nominee because of his support for abortion rights…
Bishop leads ‘Make America Holy Again’ rally in Kenosha (The Journal Times) “MAKE AMERICA HOLY AGAIN” read the hats of volunteers at Sunday’s Catholic-led Unite Our Nation march and rosary ceremony in Downtown Kenosha. Despite the obvious reference to President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again caps, the gathering sought to remain entirely apolitical, although it was certainly pro-American. “We are a great nation. America is a great country. We are doing good … Thank you for being heroes … We don’t turn our backs on the world. We go into it and change it from within,” Unite the Nation founder Kevin O’Brien concluded in his opening remarks Sunday…
Deacon, 101, shares thoughts on longevity (La Jolla Light) The secret to living so long, said Graff, 101, is to “never retire. Keep your mind going, and it’s surprising how you can interest yourself.” Graff employs that philosophy even into his second century, sitting as an emeritus board member of Community HousingWorks, with which he has been active since his retirement from designing jet engines in 1983 and subsequent ordination as a Catholic deacon the same year. “I just changed careers,” Al Graff said. “I was called to help others…”
See what you’re missing. Receive more news and posts by becoming a patron of The Deacon’s Bench!
