By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Two days after FBI agent John Rothleutner and his wife welcomed their third child, the federal government shut down due to dissension over the budget.
Jackalyn Richmond picks up supplies from Catholic Charities and the Junior League in a distribution the organizations held as a “thank you” to federal employees for the services they provide as they struggle to financially recover from the federal government shutdown. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Working without pay during the shutdown put stressors on Rothleutner’s family.
“That’s frustrating for us,” said Rothleutner, who has worked more than five years for the FBI. “We had
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Listening, learning and understanding – those are the main things Bishop Michael G. Duca wants to do as he begins to fully integrate himself into two organizations that began before he became bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in August: the Office of Black Catholics and the Commission on Racial Harmony.
Father Joshua Johnson, pictured far left, and Father Tom Clark
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
With a simple, but moving performance of the National Anthem by the St. Joseph Cathedral choir, a tradition that had been dormant for “many, many years” in the Diocese of Baton Rouge was restored.
Bishop Michael G. Duca greets scouts following Mass on Feb. 3 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. Photos by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator
Finding peace in wake of abuse scandal
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Anger, pain, confusion and heartbreak over abuse and broken trust surface through tears and cries for help. These were among the feelings expressed, especially among parents, regarding the clergy sexual abuse scandal according to Becky Eldredge and Stephanie Clouatre Davis, retreat facilitators and co-founders of Women at the Well.
As parents, they struggled themselves to
The trustees of St. Joseph Spirituality Center and the Sisters of St. Joseph who sponsor the center announced it will cease operations June 30.
The center was opened 35 years ago out of the need for spiritual opportunities that were not being provided by anyone else, executive director Dianne Hanley said in al letter. She added that need changed as parishes and other organizations began providing more spiritual programs and opportunities, and because of that shift, the main work of the center became spiritual direction.
Hanley said the board realizes that some things, like the ministry of spiritual direction, can, and will
Couple’s love is 65 years strong
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Their eyes met, yet no words were necessary.
Roy Kliebert looks lovingly at his wife Marie outside of the home where they’ve lived for 59 years. The couple has been married 65 years and will be honored at the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass and celebration at St. George Church in Baton Rouge on Feb. 10.
Remarkable events in the life of Jesus resound in the Mass Readings of the Fourth and Fifth Sundays in Ordinary Time. Most significant is the word of God, of which we are to know, live and proclaim. Many are hesitant for feelings of unworthiness because of sin. Others proclaim, yet receive rejection. Fear holds many from the mission. How can we understand the call and live out the mission given to us by the word of God?
The call
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
New York state’s recently adopted legislation allowing abortion up until the time of birth, and a similar proposal in Virginia that went even a step further has sparked outrage from pro-life leaders on the local and nationals levels.
A. The individuals identified below have been the subject of credible allegations of sexual abuse of one or more minors or vulnerable adults which allegedly occurred within the Diocese of Baton Rouge after its formation in 1961. Also included is the name of a seminarian against whom a credible
Special to The Catholic Commentator
A U.S. Supreme Court decision granting a Shreveport abortion facility an emergency stay was disappointing for pro-life officials who remain optimistic the Louisiana law will ultimately be enacted.
On Feb. 8, the nation’s high court delayed Louisiana’s attempt to enforce
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
As the church grapples with many challenges, candles flickered in St. Joseph Chapel in the Catholic Life Center, testifying to the
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
With prayers, praise and lots of recognition, Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, was celebrated in Catholic schools throughout
Bishop Duca: A new level of transparency
Bonny Van and Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Just days after releasing the names of all priests, a bishop and one former
Finding peace in wake of abuse scandal
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Anger, pain, confusion and heartbreak over abuse and broken trust
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What information are you releasing? Whose names are being listed?
A.
On Jan. 31, in conjunction with Baton Rouge Green’s Arbor Day, St. Jean Vianney Church in Baton Rouge hosted the planting of a memorial oak tree in honor of John Melancon, who was actively involved
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
With a simple, but moving performance of the National Anthem by the St. Joseph Cathedral choir, a tradition that had been dormant for “many, many years”
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Two days after FBI agent John Rothleutner and his wife welcomed their third child, the federal government shut down due to dissension over the budget.
Bishop Michael G. Duca, pictured far right, listens to discussions at a meeting of the Diocesan Commission on Racial Harmony. Also attending the meeting, pictured clockwise from the bishop, were Father Rick Andrus, pastor of St.
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Listening, learning and understanding – those are the main things Bishop Michael G. Duca wants to do
From staff reports
The Cathiolic Commentator
Late last year, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the Louisiana law requiring abortion physicians to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. That law, the 2014 Act 620 authored by Rep. Katrina Jackson, will
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
When Gabby Wicks and her two sons arrived at the home she had been working on through Habitat for Humanity of Greater
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Tucked away in a mid-city neighborhood dotted by homelessness, low-income properties and occasional spats of violence, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been
From staff reports
The Catholic Commentator
Blind and fiercely committed to his priesthood, Father Patrick J. Mascarella had more than a heightened sense of touch that helped him orientate himself in
Couple’s love is 65 years strong
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Their eyes met, yet no words were necessary.
Roy
On Jan. 13 Knights of Peter Claver Louisiana State Conference President Reginald Berry administered the oath of office to Wilfred B. Ricard Council/Court #116 officers. The ceremony was held at Immaculate Conception Church
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Dr. Allen Hunt often pictures brown pelicans when he thinks about evangelization. In a talk before a standing room only crowd
Bishop Michael G. Duca is shown with Father Tom Clark SJ at Immaculate Conception in Scotlandville on Jan. 27. The bishop celebrated Mass in the parish’s activity center, then blessed the renovation project going on in the church. Renovations
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Gathered around the kitchen table in the Highland Road home in Baton Rouge where they grew up, sisters Margie Harelson Windham, Janice Harelson Troxclair, Dottie Harelson
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Money to pay for public defense attorneys in Louisiana is slowly drying up, according to Richard Pittman, deputy public defender with the Louisiana Public Defender Board. He said funding comes from a combination of state money and local revenue, “the
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
The tree is down, those joyful memories of Christmas morning buried in the brown needles that seem to hang around seemingly until spring.
The Nativity has been stowed and the outdoor decorations shoved back into the cramped attic.
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux released the names of priests who have admitted, were convicted or credibly accused of sexually abusing children on Jan. 11.
In a letter, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre said none of the priests on the
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
January 18 is the peak of a journey to Washington, D.C. filled with “prayer and sacrifice” for hundreds of
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
As Deacon John Vu prepares to be ordained a priest, he ponders about 50 years down the road and
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
On a gray, cold, blustery day, Chris Janney, an architect and jazz musician, watched as construction crews and massive cranes
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Father Jerome LeDoux SVD, former columnist for The Catholic Commentator and who previously served as pastor at St. Paul
Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Baton Rouge has appointed Carolyn Guidry as interim principal, succeeding principal C.J. Laird who announced his resignation from the school in December.
Guidry’s appointment was effective Jan. 7.
It was also announced that Cecilia Methvin, a former assistant
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