News from Good Shepherd and Beyond

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    News from Good Shepherd and Beyond
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Whispers in the Loggia
- Down Under, The Verdict Is In... Just Don't Tell The Locals
  
  In a word, it is epochal – for the first time anywhere, a civil court has found a cardinal guilty of sexual abuse. Capping an 18-month process that predated the wider church's re-immersion in the...
- For Advent II, A Word of "Comfort"
  
  Don't know about you, folks, but Advent is zipping by on this end – and with this year's calendar, by midweek it'll already be half over. This scribe's been hoping to catch a breather as these days...
- While most folks these days still (gratefully) know what happened in 1776, odds are you'd be lucky to find a similar understanding of 1787... let alone the year when the Constitution – and the...
- On 41's Passing, Recalling "Bush's Bishop"
  
  Given the tide of mourning over Friday's death at 94 of George H.W. Bush, when it comes to this beat, one piece of the 41st President's legacy bears particular note, all the more as its impact...
- In "Land of Enchantment," A Double Hit
  
  As if Wednesday's descent on Houston Chancery by the civil authorities wasn't enough on its own, only later did it emerge that, at the very same time, things were likewise brewing across the other...
- In H-Town, A Hard Day's Night
  
  (SVILUPPO: And, well, it's over – per a Whispers op, the sweep ended around 9.45pm local/Central: almost exactly 12 hours after it began.) Ten hours into the prosecutorial operation Houston Chancery...
- Amid Warrant for Files, Houston Chancery Has(n't) Been Raided
  
  Eleven years ago this week, the eyes of American Catholicism were on the South, as the church's epochal ascent in Texas was capped by the region's first-ever red hat. Now, with Cardinal Daniel...

Catholic News Service
- Ignoring reality of abuse, resisting responsibility must end, says Jesuit
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Claudio Peri, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Anyone who still believes the abuse crisis is an "American" or "Western" problem must become properly...
- Itinerant papal preacher: Capuchin will lead U.S. bishops' retreat
  
  IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For more than 38 years, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa has preached to the pope and top officials of the Roman Curia. In early...
- With a mother's heart, Mary raises up the abandoned, pope says at Mass
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Just as she did hundreds of years ago from a small hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, Mary accompanies the downtrodden and the...
- Don't be afraid to ask for things from God in prayer, pope says
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- No one should be afraid to turn to God with prayer, especially in times of great doubt, suffering and need, Pope Francis said...
- Pilgrimage across U.S. lets peacemaker spread light from Bethlehem
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Katie Rutter By Katie Rutter LAFAYETTE, Ind. (CNS) -- Brian Duane's maroon Subaru had already covered about 1,800 miles when he pulled into the parking lot at the Cathedral of St...
- High court won't hear states' appeals over defunding Planned Parenthood
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pro-life leaders said they were disappointed the U.S. Supreme Court declined Dec. 10 to hear appeals from Kansas and Louisiana on lower court...
- West Bank residents work to ensure tourists spend time with locals
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky BEIT SAHOUR, West Bank (CNS) -- Bethlehem and the neighboring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour depend economically on tourism, but traditionally...
National Catholic Register
- The Remedy of Silence, Dating Outside the Church, The Von Trapp Family Advent Traditions, and More!
  
  By Tito Edwards | The Remedy of Silence - Sam Guzman, The Catholic Gentleman+++ Dating Outside the Church – Paul Kniaz, Catholic Stand The Von Trapp Family Advent Traditions – Maria...
- What Were the “Minor Orders,” and Why Do They Matter?
  
  By Kevin Di Camillo | Although they had been around since at least the Council of Trent in the 16th century in their renewed and current form, the “Minor Orders” — that is, the steps to becoming a...
- Pope’s Homosexuality Comments Could Encourage Discussion at Abuse Summit
  
  By Edward Pentin | VATICAN CITY — Is Pope Francis, through some recent comments he has made, encouraging a broader discussion of homosexuality in the consecrated and priestly life ahead of the...
- St. Nicholas Speaks, Love's Pure Light, Shepherds’ Carol
  
  By Dave Armstrong | I'd like to present my semi-historical poem about St. Nicholas (2012), another one of mine from 2001, that’s almost like a mini-catechism, and Shepherds’ Carol (2010).
- Millennials, Authenticity, and the Latin Mass; 9 Atheist Converts; Queering Science; and More Links!
  
  By Tito Edwards | Millennials, Authenticity, & the Latin Mass – Jake Neu, Crisis Magazine Prodigal Sons (& Daughters) Return: 9 Atheist Converts Share Their Stories – Theresa Zoe...
- ‘Victory for Victims’: Trump Signs Genocide Relief Act for Iraqi and Syrian Christians
  
  By Peter Jesserer Smith | WASHINGTON — Just one day after Iraq celebrated the anniversary of its total victory over the Islamic State terrorist army, President Donald Trump signed into law a new...
- ‘Mary’s Team’ Heads to a National Football Championship
  
  By Jim Graves | The Ravens football team of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, will participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Football...
News from the Vatican
- Pope: Protecting human dignity must be government priority
  
  Protecting human dignity and human rights must always be at the heart of any action by world leaders to confront the many humanitarian crises afflicting today's world, Pope Francis said.
- Vatican publishes schedule for papal visit to Abu Dhabi
  
  When Pope Francis travels to the United Arab Emirates Feb. 3-5, he will meet with the international Muslim Council of Elders, participate in an interreligious meeting and celebrate Mass for the local...
- Pope adds another trip to agenda, will visit Bulgaria, Macedonia in May
  
  What is already turning out to be a busy spring for Pope Francis has just gotten busier with the announcement Thursday that in addition to his three other international trips at the start of 2019, he...
- With a mother’s heart, Mary raises up the abandoned, pope says at Mass
  
  Just as she did hundreds of years ago from a small hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, Mary accompanies the downtrodden and the lowly like a mother caring for her children.
- Cardinal Pell found guilty of sex abuse by Melbourne court
  
  In a decision that will undoubtedly create shockwaves around the globe, Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Church official to stand trial for sexual abuse, has been found guilty on Tuesday by a...