As the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrates its second Christmas under COVID-19 protocols, there is a palpable sense of optimism among the faithful. The spirit of birth and rebirth remains strong in parishes and communities across the area as Catholics witness — and commit — countless acts of selflessness that deserve our attention.
As The Tablet Sees It
NYC Politicians Vote To Cheapen Citizenship
A mostly lame duck City Council last week passed, by a 33-14 margin with two abstentions, a bill that would allow registered non-citizens to vote in city elections.
De Blasio’s Parting Shots: More Harm Than Good?
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio looks to be on a mission to issue mandates as his tenure in office comes to a close. While setting aside the efficacy of the vaccines, de Blasio and the city’s Health Department chief, Dr. Dave Chokshi, seem to be finding problems where few actually exist.
Bishop’s Experiences Mix Calm Waters, Changing Tides
A diocese that has been “called back to the shore” to come and follow Jesus more closely, as Bishop Robert Brennan put it in his installation Mass homily, can expect an invigorating mix of comforting familiarity and surprising change. The Diocese of Brooklyn is blessed with a new shepherd who has experienced and embraced this combination of stability and readiness to “go forth” as a community.
If We Can Install a Bishop, We Can Enthrall a Flock
On Nov. 30, the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph will host a liturgy that is unique, full of meaning, and worthy of attention. The installation of the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Robert J. Brennan, is the kind of transition that echoes Jesus Christ’s promises to his Church — to “make all things new” and to “never leave us orphans.”
The Importance of a Child’s Spiritual Guide
Recently, the Archdiocese of Catania in Italy announced that there will be a three-year ban on godparents at baptisms because 99% of those selected by area families have been found unsuitable for the role. What is that role?
Saints in the Making
The Catholic Church thinks a lot about the past, the present, and the future. It’s not always clear which of the three is the focus of thought in a secularized society that rejects God.
The Pope and the President: A Meeting of Minds and Hearts?
President Joe Biden visited with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 29. The meeting was eagerly anticipated, partly because Catholics and others wondered what the two leaders might say, or not say, about Biden’s pro-abortion policies: Does his support of policies promoting access to procedures that kill unborn babies preclude him from reception of holy Communion? Should he even get to meet the Holy Father?
When Faith is Vandalized, It Deserves Many Defenders
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, tracking incidents of destruction to Church-related sites around the U.S., reported on Oct. 14 that there had been 100 acts of vandalism since May 2020, including several in the Diocese of Brooklyn. This is more than a crime statistic.
Local Dioceses Are Partners, Rooted in a Connected Church
The very first Catholic diocese in the United States of America was the Diocese of Baltimore, established in 1789. This diocese would encompass the entire new nation. In 1808, Baltimore was raised to the level of an archdiocese and four other dioceses were created: Boston, Bardstown, Philadelphia, and New York.