Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday’s last edition before Christmas. Following today’s selections, we’ll take a break and return in early January. Have a joyful Christmas!
As we ponder our Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, immigration continues to demand attention – in particular the current administration’s attack on Sister Norma Pimentel in the Rio Grande Valley, and a poll finding heavy Catholic support for mass deportation.
Pew Research tackles a major question: Why Do Some Americans Leave Their Religion While Others Stay?
Women Deacons? A voice from the East says “need, not precedent” should decide.
Immigration issues
Alleging “incomplete and inaccurate” record keeping, the federal government has suspended Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley’s eligibility for federal funding pending a further review. “I take very seriously every single dollar entrusted to us,” Missionary of Jesus Sr. Norma Pimentel, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said in a Nov. 28 statement posted on the agency’s website. From National Catholic Reporter.
According to a recently-released EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll, 54% of Catholic voters say they support “the detention and deportation of unauthorized immigrants on a broad scale.” The level of support is even higher — 58% — among Catholics who attend Mass at least weekly. US Bishops’ New Immigration Chairman Brendan Cahill says he hopes Catholics will ‘move beyond talking past one another’ on the contentious issue. From National Catholic Register.
There is more to the polling data from Pew Research. Growing shares say the Trump administration is doing ‘too much’ to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Overall, 50% of adults disapprove of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, including 36% who strongly disapprove.
VIEWPOINT The visibility and voice of clergy are indispensable to the protest movement forming against President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration tactics, said Michael Woolf, a Chicago-area pastor recently arrested outside a federal detention center. From Baptist News Global.
VIEWPOINT As lawless gangs of ICE agents terrorize city neighborhoods, it’s getting harder to maintain that the United States is a democracy. From the editors of Christian Century.
ANALYSIS The first year of Donald Trump’s mass-deportation campaign has been marked by misinformation, intimidation and brutality and it’s likely to get worse in 2026, immigration experts say. Baptist News Global reports “12 abuses of power cited in Trump’s immigration agenda.”
New appointees in Trump administration
Baptist News Global provides consistent coverage of the current administration from a faith-based point of view. Following are two items, one about support of election deniers, the other about the president’s new antisemitism envoy.
Bible study – and current events
The Christian Century finds some worrisome current events, in an article by Jerusalem journalist Mordechai Beck, about Nimrod, “the bad king.” Beck says some bible stories aren’t pretty. Some of the biblical kings are downright awful individuals and terrible leaders. You follow a bad king at your peril. Nimrod is the biblical archetype of the corrupt leader obsessed with his own power.
Advent and Christmas
Advent is a season filled with rich Catholic traditions, but the Catholic News Agency finds a slightly lesser-known one is growing in popularity among younger Catholics: the ancient liturgy of the Rorate Caeli Advent Mass. It honors the Blessed Virgin Mary through a Mass celebrated at dawn, in complete darkness, and lit only by candles symbolizing Christ, the Light of the World, entering with Mary as the vessel.
OPINION Holiday advice. Dorothy Dempsey, writing in Black Catholic Messenger, says we must resist Trump’s world and live in love. She examines the moral ills of the second Trump presidency and the conundrum of an America that seems to worship him despite it all.
Two Christmas Classics That Still Warm the Heart, says National Catholic Register. “The Bells of St. Mary’s” and “The Bishop’s Wife” blend faith, humor and humanity in stories that continue to lift spirits at Christmastime.
A Christmas Miracle: When enemies become brothers. Tony Magliano writes, “Here is a link for you to my Christmas column.”
Justice Bulletin Board
The Church’s tradition of encouraging everyone to create time for waiting, watching, wondering, and welcome in these four weeks of Advent make this period one of the most spiritual. Feast of the Holy Family.
Epiphany. Have you ever had an epiphany? A sudden realization? A flash of recognition in which someone or something is seen in a new light? Barbara Molinari Quinby looks at Sunday Scriptures and reflects on what she sees, at the Justice Bulletin Board.
Foster care crisis
The number of children and youth in foster care far outweighs the number of licensed foster families. Despite that, Christian families in several states have found themselves shut out of the process as a result of their traditional beliefs on gender and sexuality. From Christianity Today.
Women’s role In the Church
OPINION Women’s role in the church remains a hot potato the Vatican can’t seem to handle. From National Catholic Reporter.
OPINION Diakonia. A Vatican commission says there is insufficient historical evidence to support the ordination of women to the deaconate, disappointing many. However, perhaps those advocates should find the declaration encouraging. We do not need a mooring in earlier centuries for ministry today. It is need, not precedent, that must shape our evangelization.
Headlines and links
Pope calls for peace as fresh Thai-Cambodia border fighting erupts. From the Union of Catholic Asian News.
A group of Filipino bishops has opposed a proposal to construct a nuclear power plant, citing safety, environmental, and moral concerns. From National Catholic Register.
Pope criticizes prison overcrowding during special Mass for inmates, guards and families.
Minnesota bishop leads prayer service after ICE detention of parent of Catholic school student. From National Catholic Reporter.
‘Enough’ of anti-semitic violence, say pope, bishops after Bondi Beach attack. From National Catholic Reporter.
‘Losing my religion’
Pew report reveals why some Americans, including Catholics, leave their childhood faith. From National Catholic Reporter. Pew Research says a study shows most Americans who leave their childhood religion do so by age 30.
Honoring Father Clarence Rivers
An upcoming historical marker will honor Fr Clarence Rivers, “father of Black Catholic liturgy,” reports the Black Catholic Messenger. He was the first Black priest in the Cincinnati Archdiocese and the first Black Catholic liturgist to compose African-American sacred music.
Pope Leo sings. So should we
Science says it’s good for us, says Elinor Harrison, at the National Catholic Reporter. Is this the rebirth of Gregorian Chant?
A new day: Tomorrow’s American Catholic
Editor Michael Centore writes: “We are grateful for everyone’s interest, prayers, and support to this point, and we look forward to embarking with you on the next stage of our journey.” Themes of synodality will continue to guide “Today’s” American Catholic into Tomorrow’s American Catholic.
Our sources
Black Catholic Messenger: A source to trust, for Wisdom Wednesday, or at any time at the website.
Editor Nate Tinner-Williams writes about the birth of the online publication: “In Fall 2020, the Black Catholic Messenger was formed among a group of Black Catholic laypeople and allies who agreed that the Catholic media landscape was missing something: an online publication for Black Catholics. We decided to change that.” He defines the mission: “Our outlet is to be a space for Black Catholics to have a voice within a Black Catholic context, rather than a secular, general (which often is functionally White), or Black Protestant context. Learn more here.”
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