By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
Mary Ann Schoettly, a 66 year old divorcee and mother of three was automatically excommunicated when she was “ordained” a priest in a Jewish synagogue outside Philadelphia on Sunday. The “pseudo-ordination” was denounced by Philadelphia’s Cardinal Justin Rigali.
A few listeners have called in to our radio broadcast, Women of Grace® Live, heard Monday through Friday at 11 AM (ET) and available via podcast on our website, www.womenofgrace.com, expressing fear about the direction our current president is taking the nation. Not only is there concern about violations regarding the dignity and worth of the human person from the moment of conception to natural death, but there is a great fear mounting with regard to the vilification of Catholics and Christians in the press and in potential policy. Recent statements identifying pro-life individuals and Catholics as “national terrorists” has frightened many.
In light of these calls, I am offering to you again a blog I wrote following the November, 2008 elections. It deals with fear and trust. I do hope it is of value to you. As always, I welcome your comments.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
A new survey has found that 10 percent of America’s estimated 230 million adults are former Catholics, while 2.6% of American adults are converts to Catholicism. Thus there are roughly 4 adult Americans who have left the faith for every 1 who has entered the Church.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
The former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Mary Ann Glendon, who was scheduled to receive an award at Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal at the school’s ill-fated commencement on May 17, has notified University president Fr. John Jenkins that she is declining the award and will not attend the ceremony.
On April 19 I was one of four speakers at the Boston Women's Conference, an outreach in the Archdiocese of Boston and held at Boston College. An attendee approached me through the course of the day and commented on my scapular. It is a bit of a dainty affair and features a picture of Our Lady and the Sacred Heart. She asked me if the Women of Grace website contained any information about the scapular. I expressed to her that it did not, but that I would consider adding information about this devotional and sacramental to the site. In the meantime, however, I offer the following article that I wrote about the scapular for an issue of Canticle Magazine: The Voice of Women of Grace. I hope you find it useful and beneficial, that it clears up any questions you might have regarding the scapular, and that it creates a desire in your own heart to be invested in this holy way of life.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
Unconfirmed reports are saying that Notre Dame president Fr. John Jenkins may have been summoned to the White house on Wednesday of last week. The university has given no statement on the matter, but a private jet owned by Notre Dame did file a flight plan to Washington for April 22.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
A new controversy is brewing in the UK over whether or not couples should be allowed to store embyros for the purpose of using them later to cure diseases or create new body parts for themselves. One U.S. is already offering these services.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has written to all U.S. Representatives asking them to support the Pregnant Women Support Act which will provide common sense support to pregnant and parenting women and their families.
Experts say the Vatican’s “doctrinal assessment” of dissident U.S. nuns involved in the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is long overdue.
