With the expressed will of his oldest living relative, the body of the Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, will eventually be moved from New York to his home diocese of Peoria in Illinois. This comes after many years of dialogue between the Archdiocese of New York, who had Sheen’s remains interred in the crypt of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Diocese of Peoria, who wishes to place Sheen in the crypt of Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, where he received his First Communion and where he was ordained a priest. His parents are buried nearby Saint Mary’s and his remaining relatives still are in the area.
Editorials
Real Reform
The attempt to suspend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse died without a whimper in the State House in Albany where it was being championed by Queens Assemblywoman Marge Markey and a concerted campaign by the New York Daily News. The proposal was bad law and was made even worse by the effects it would have had on the mission of the Church.
Media Not Biased?
In a recent op-ed piece on the Catholic website Crux, Father Edward Beck, C.P., a noted television commentator on matters of religion, opined that he does not believe that there really is an anti-Catholic bias in the media.
Political Incorrectness
The tragedy of the Orlando nightclub massacre is the awful loss of life that occurred there. This largest terrorist incident since 9/11/01 reminds us that the threats from the radical sect of Islam continues to be a real factor in day-to-day life, not just in the United States but around the globe.
The Role of The Laity
This past week, Pope Francis took three dicasteries at the Vatican and merged them into one: The Pontifical Council for the Family, the Pontifical Council for laity, and the Pontifical Academy for Life (which deals with pro-life activities) will be as of Sept. 1, one Pontifical Council for Laity, Family, and Life.
Gift of Priesthood
We are blessed in the Diocese of Brooklyn with the gift of 10 newly ordained priests. They come from different backgrounds and different cultures, but all share in common their Catholic faith, their zeal and earnestness to preach the Gospel, and a desire to preach that Gospel here in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
‘And With Your Spirit’
John L. Allen, Jr., in his article, “‘Liturgy wars’ have gone quiet, but they’ve hardly gone away,” on the website Crux, examines an issue about which seemingly every Catholic has an opinion – the Liturgy!
Female Deacons?
The International Union of Superiors General met with Pope Francis as part of its plenary assembly. During that meeting, a religious sister asked the Holy Father why the Church doesn’t include women in the permanent diaconate, since they already participate in the works of charity, as well as in the case of administration, following the example of the first deacons as detailed in Acts of the Apostles.
Signs of the Times
In the past week, a statue was stolen from a Catholic church in Williamsburg, a Catholic priest was wounded in a drive-by shooting in South Ozone Park and a school bus used by a Jewish school was torched in Crown Heights.
Listen to Pentecost
Just a few days ago in the Gospel we were proclaiming from the Evangelist John, we were told something that, if we were among the Apostles, would have driven us up the wall. “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear to hear it now,” Our Lord says.