Pope: Is He a Good Layman, He Should Remain So

Interesting comments from Pope Francis about making too many laymen deacons.  From The Deacon's Bench.

Cardinal Dolan on Face the Nation

My Two Cents

On Holy Thursday the Holy Father went to a prison for juveniles in Rome and washed and kissed the feet of 12 inmates as part of a Mass.  The 12 included non-Christians and girls.  This has apparently started a firestorm among Catholic traditionalists because it violates the rubric for the Holy Thursday Mass which specifies that 12 MEN should have their feet washed by the priest.

(For whatever it's worth my heretical diocese has apparently disregarded this rule with the permission of the Bishop every Holy Thursday since I converted to Catholicism 8 years ago.  Unfortunately here in the rural Bible Belt there's no SSPX parish to defect to so I guess I'll have to go back to First Baptist Church. Of course, for years the owner of a local restaurant has diligently tried to convince me to join his Greek Orthodox Parish in a neighboring city 40 miles away so I guess that's always an option.)

I guess I'm a Bad Catholic for a reason: it seems to this old former Southern Baptist that Jesus violated a lot of religious rules himself for which he was greatly condemned by a lot of really religious people.   Despite the liturgical rules which may have been broken, this may have been the first time that anybody has told or shown these young people that God loves them and that they are entitled to some respect just by virtue of being a human being made in the image of God.  I seem to remember that another pastor who broke some rubrics about Sabbath observance said "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."  That's my two cents.  Read more here.

Pope Francis & the Imitation of Christ

Pope Francis celebrated Mass at a Juvenile Detention Facility and Rome and washed the feet of inmates. Full story from USA Today.

Pope Francis Rejects Papal Apartments for Humbler Digs

Have you heard the news? Pope Francis has decided that the Papal Apartment in the Apostolic Palace is too fancy for his taste and has decided to live in the Vatican Guest Quarters.  Our new Holy Father apparently intends to live like his namesake Saint Francis of Assisi.  I am excited.  What new wonders await us?  Full story from Whispers in the Loggia.

Pope Francis and the Devil

Our new Holy Father has said a lot about the Devil and Spiritual Warfare since taking office.  Great article from Catholic World Report.

Bishop Hartmayer on Pope Francis

The thoughts of my Bishop on the election of Pope Francis

Habemus Papam !

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