The Vatican Attacks, the Vatican Protects: Catholics in Lonely Exile Seek Advent Hope

This is what our Catholic church has chosen to become under its current leadership:

Questions for Archbishop Cordileone: Where Does the Fixation on Demonizing Gays Come From?

Two questions I'd like to ask Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone:

Gerald T. Slevin: Mother Petitions President Obama to Combat Organizational Child Sexual Abuse

Another very important posting sent to me today by Jerry Slevin, which relates to his call for President Obama to establish a national commission to combat child sexual abuse.  This gives us something concrete we can do to make our voices heard--sign a petition and circulate it as widely as possible.  What follows is Jerry's text:

Droppings from the Catholic Birdcage: "Running the Slur Piece" about Fox News Priest "Beneath Contempt"

National Catholic Reporter does take heat from some Catholics for circulating fact-based stories about how some American Catholics deal with their gay brothers and sisters.  Yesterday, when Dennis Coday linked to a NewsHounds article about Father Jonathan Morris of Fox News in his "Morning Briefing" column, several readers of Coday's column vehemently objected.  

Story of Minnesota Teen Denied Confirmation for Supporting LGBT Rights Continues to Circulate

Lennon Cihak

National Catholic Reporter continues to air the story of Lennon Cihak of Barnesville, Minnesota--the teen denied confirmation (and here) by his pastor Father Gary LaMoine and by the bishop of Crookston, Michael Hoeppner.  If I understand correctly, his parents have also now been denied communion by both gentlemen.

And Then There Were Nineteen: GOP Makes Its (White Male) Committee Appointments

Rachel Maddow (by way of Abby Zimet at Salon):

So yeah, this is what you can clip and save for the next time someone in the beltway tells you how seriously the Republican party is taking its diversity problem this year.  Clip and save, fellows.

Apologies for Mistakes, Previous Posting

Dear Readers,

I've just re-read my previous posting and found several egregious errors.  I apologize for them.  I've now corrected the posting, and hope that if it seemed more than ordinarily jumbled to anyone who read it earlier, you might have another look at it.  

This should be a reminder to me not to rush to post something I've written when I'm a bit under the weather!