Not everyone can talk about God and get others to listen. But there’s something about the Rev. Myra Brown’s voice that perfectly suits her line of work; her calm and reassurance connects. Brown, 51, is a fixture in the Rochester-area spiritual scene, spanning everything from being a young altar worker at black Catholic revivals to […]
Catholic Church
Posted inNews & Opinion
Pope makes moral appeals to Congress
Pope Francis just wrapped up his address to Congress and instead of excoriating the members over gridlock, economic inequality, and inaction on climate change, he spoke of opportunity and hope. (Text of the speech should be available soon on the Vatican website.) The pope, speaking gently and plainly, called on politicians to work together to […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Catholic bishops’ changing views on gays
It’s taken a long time, but in some ways it was inevitable. An assembly of Roman Catholic bishops called to the Vatican by Pope Francis has released a document saying that the Catholic Church should be more welcoming to gays, unmarried couples, and divorced people and their children. Some Catholics are shocked and outraged, especially […]
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Activist nun makes Rochester stop
The philosophy of the hard right is breathtaking in its strangulation of compassion, and in its self-righteous disregard of history. It is also, says Sister Simone Campbell, just plain bad for the country. Campbell is the executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby based in Washington, D.C. She is coming to Rochester later […]
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Truth to power in the church: Callan on Ratzinger
It’s strange to think the Baha Men had any relevance to the selection last week of a new pope. But with the reputation of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — who’s been variously labeled “The Enforcer,” “Cardinal No,” and “God’s Rottweiler” — “Who Let the Dogs Out” has, yet again, taken on odd meanings. Ratzinger, now Pope […]
