Celebrity Priest Admits Affair

No, not the celebrity priest you're probably thinking of.

Fr. Michael Manning, whose media ministry Wordnet Productions produces the program The Word in the World, broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network and other channels, admitted an affair to a local newspaper after someone tipped off a reporter.

The woman is Fr. Manning's second cousin.

Unlike more hysterical writers ("I don't even have words for how bad that is" say National Catholic Register bloggers Mat and Pat Archbold), reporter Josh Dulaney of the San Jose Mercury News writes about the 70-year-old priest's remorse and struggle with sin, his breaking off the affair two years ago, and the burden of his own hypocrisy.

Dulaney reminds readers repulsed by the blood relationship that second cousins are less closely related than first cousins -- who can marry in the state of California. And he reports that the correspondence leaked to the newspaper "appears to reveal a conflicted priest struggling to remain faithful to his calling."

He quotes one of the letters from Fr. Manning as saying, "The burden of deception in hotels, and with the community with whom I work and live has become overwhelming."

Now, I'm guessing that many Son Rise Morning Show listeners haven't heard of Fr. Manning because he isn't on EWTN -- he's on the Protestant and "lowbrow" (by some accounts) TBN -- and never the twain shall meet. But he isn't exactly nobody. He's appeared on many television programs, aside from his own; he's written numerous books; his website offers daily reflections; he even has a Facebook page for an iPhone app that delivers daily sermonettes.

The online response has been -- in comparison to a certain accused priest I could name -- sparse but predictable. Fr. Manning is "flippant." He expects everyone to forgive him while "priests" are unwilling to forgive divorced and gay people. He leaves people "sad, angry and betrayed." He's too charming. His story is "bizarre."

I'd say his story is none of anyone's business. If someone hadn't leaked it, no one would ever know -- and no one was entitled to know. It was not illegal, it was not an abuse of power, it was not a gleeful choice to lead a double life for as long as possible, it was a regular old sin. One of the oldest, in fact. As the reporter tells it, the man struggled with his sin, won his struggle, repented, confessed, and went on with the life he had vowed long ago to God. People fall all the time, and when they fall they are supposed to do just that. That's what we believe as Catholics. Yes, it's disappointing -- but priests, even "celebrity" priests, are not God. Thinking they are says more about us than it does about them, and what it says isn't good.

Guests for Thursday, 4/7/2011

Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.


Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Dr Kevin Vost is online at drvost.com.


Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Dr Matthew Bunson is online at osv.com.


John Zmirak, author of "The Bad Catholic's Guide to the Seven Deadly Sins"


Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Stephanie Mann is online at supremacyandsurvival.com.


TM Doran, author of the new novel from Ignatius Press, "Toward the Gleam"


Congratulations to Fr. Joe Binzer for being named Auxiliary Bishop-elect for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati!

Tom Pauken, author of "Bringing America Home"


Lisa Hendey is online at catholicmom.com.

Rita Heikenfeld's Zesty Carrot Recipe

8 nice carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips or sliced into 1/4� coins
2 -3 tablespoons finely diced onion
2-3 tablespoons horseradish ore more to taste
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375�F. Add carrots to boiling salted water, reduce heat and cook until almost tender, drain and place in sprayed casserole. Mix onion, horseradish, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and water, pour over carrots. Mix bread crumbs and butter, sprinkle over carrot mixture.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

(BTW, the photo here is not of carrots, but rather of horseradish, today's Bible food.)

NEW AUXILIARY FOR CINCINNATI

The Holy Father today has appointed Fr. Joe Binzer as the new Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, to serve under Archbishop Dennis Schnurr.

Up until now, Fr. Binzer had been serving as the Chancellor for the Archdiocese, as well as the pastor of St. Louis Church downtown.

Archbishop Schnurr said he is grateful for the appointment of Bishop-elect Binzer, saying, "He is an excellent administrator, but also a priest of great simplicity and compassion. His love of the Church shines through in his tireless service to the people of God."

Fr. Binzer will be ordained to the episcopacy on June 9th at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.

Read the full press release at the Catholic Telegraph's site.

Guests for Wednesday, 4/6/2011

Paula Westwood is online at createdorder.blogspot.com.

Bill Donaghy is online at twistedmystics.blogspot.com.

Fr Stan Fortuna is online at francescoproductions.com.


Sean Gallagher and CRS Liberia are online at crs.org.

Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.


Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Bob Rice, author of "Between the Savior and the Sea"


Fr Phillip DeVous is online at acton.org.

Kevin Wright is online at wrtareligioustravel.com.


Julie Davis, author of "Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life"


Fr Kyle Schnippel blogs at fatherschnippel.blogspot.com.

Sr Judith Sutera, author of "Lent and Easter Wisdom from St. Benedict"


John Zmirak, author of "The Bad Catholic's Guide to the Seven Deadly Sins"

Guests for Tuesday, 4/5/2011

Rich Leonardi blogs at richleonardi.blogspot.com.

Tony Beshara is online at thejobsearchsolution.com.

Fr Joe Kempf's new DVD's are online at liguori.org.


Jeff Grabowsky's jog blog is online at jeffrunsamerica.com.

Bill Donaghy is online at twistedmystics.blogspot.com.

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Paula Westwood blogs at createdorder.blogspot.com.

Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Fr Warren Savage, author of "Mindful Meditations for Every Day of Lent and Easter"


For more information on the pre-beatification party for Pope John Paul II featuring Fr. Stan Fortuna, visit frstan.royalmont.com.


Danielle Bean is online at faithandfamilylive.com.


Sean Gallagher's work with Catholic Relief Services in Liberia can be found at crs.org.

Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.

Taking the Whole "Consecrated Hands" Thing a Bit Too Far

Paul Bettany with a cross tattooed on his face! Bones from the new Star Trek movie in a Clint Eastwood cowboy outfit! And they're a vampire-fighting PRIESTS!

How cool (in a kitschy way) could this get? How terrible could this prove to be?

Sony's official trailer of PRIEST, a movie made from an "acclaimed graphic novel," reveals what could be an over-the-top, mindlessly enjoyable action movie or a total stinker in every sense of the word.

Let's face it, there is nothing inherently blasphemous in a fantasy story about a vampire-fighting priest... although one is obviously flirting with dumbness from the beginning. Considering its graphic novel origin and its Hollywood metamorphosis, this story would seem to offer little hope for harmless fun.

Still... Captain von Trapp as a bad monsignor in a cobra hood! A really cool bike! Cross amulets that turn into throwing stars! Big high-tech knives! Former priest turned frontier lawman! Goopy, disgusting-looking vampires (why are all monsters goopy now?)! Costumes that look like left-overs from George Lucas's closet!

In the trailer someone asks, "Is it true what they say about priests -- that they wield the hand of God?"

Killing vampires is taking the whole "consecrated hands" thing too far in the wrong direction. But still, it could be fun. Maybe. Possibly.

The top comment on Youtube Web is "Please don't s**k," so you know action fans are equally dubious.

I'm pretty sure it'll be awful. Cross Wild West movies, Mad Max movies, the Star Wars saga, and the Catholic Church and you're far more likely to make a whole LOT of people angry than you are to please even one crowd.

There's a "priestess," which is not a good sign. But she seems to stay clothed, which is rare enough for a female character in an action movie. So you never know.

I think I'll watch the other trailer one more time and enjoy the movie it conjures up in my mind, because it is probably far better than the mess the real one is likely to be. I'm betting it's all church and no God. At least it doesn't open Easter weekend.

Guests for Monday, 4/4/2011

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Gary Zimak is online at followingthetruth.com.

Brian O'Neel, author of "39 New Saints You Should Know"


Teresa Tomeo is online at teresatomeo.com.


Cheryl Dickow is online at bezalelbooks.com.


Patrice MacArthur is online at spiritualwoman.net.


Rich Leonardi is online at richleonardi.blogspot.com.

Dr Kevin Vost is online at drvost.com.


Information on helping the Covington Diocesan Children's Home can be found at dcchome.org.

Fr Joe Kempf's new DVD's are "Feeding Hungry Hearts: Celebrating the Eucharist" and "A Child's First Communion" and can be found at liguori.org.

To connect with the Mission Office in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, call 513-421-3131.

On "The Borgias"

File this under "never take an actor's word for anything:"

Jeremy Irons (Scar in The Lion King -- typecasting, anyone?), who stars as Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander VI in The Borgias, says "The medieval mind would've had no problem with a pope who has a mistress. Why do you expect him to be a God? He's not a God. He's a man, with all the weaknesses and failures."

The medieval mind didn't have a problem with corrupt popes having mistresses? I kind of thought it did. If not, it's funny about that whole Reformation thing, isn't it?

Thing #5 to do in Cincinnati while you're here for Sacred Heart Radio's 10th Anniversary Celebration: Visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

We continue our series helping you complete your weekend plans for when you visit Cincinnati for Sacred Heart Radio's 10th Anniversary conference with Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Al Kresta, Teresa Tomeo, Dr Ray Guarendi and the Son Rise Morning Show team. Sure, you'll have the opportunity to visit Guardian Angels Church, which will be the headquarters for the all-day July 2 event, but since the Cincinnati area has tons of great Church architechture to explore, why not see what else is in town?

There's historic Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine, the first parish ever established in the city (where they still offer Mass in German), the expansive murals at Mother of God in Covington, the stunning mosaics at St. Monica-St. George on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, the Greek-influenced St. Peter in Chains Cathedral downtown, and even the 24-hour adoration chapel at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood, where the studios of Sacred Heart Radio are located. But perhaps the crown jewel of the tri-state is located on 12th and Madison in Covington, KY: St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.

The construction for the diocese of Covington's Cathedral began in 1894, and needless to say, it was quite the project. With an exterior inspired by Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and guarded by some 26 gargoyles hand carved and imported from Italy, it's certainly a place with curb appeal. A step inside, however, reveals ornate mosaic Stations of the Cross, massive hand-carved wooden crucifixes, and a detailed look at the most popular feature in the Church:

The Cathedral's north transept window is the world's largest church stained glass window, measuring 67 feet in length by 24 feet wide. It presents the early fifth century Ecumenical Council of Ephesus that proclaimed Mary as the Mother of God.

Ready to make the pilgrimage yet?

If you come to Cincinnati for our 10th Anniversary Celebration with Fr. Mitch, Teresa, Al, Dr. Ray, Brian, Anna and myself, we hope you enjoy your time with us at Guardian Angels Church on July 2. But don't leave Cincinnati without exploring some of the other architectural treasures of the Church in and around the Queen City!

Guests for Friday, 4/1/2011

Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Fr Warren Savage, author of "Mindful Meditations for Every day of Lent and Easter"


Joe Scheidler's tribute event is online at joescheidlertribute.com.


Danielle Bean is online at faithandfamilylive.com.


Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Tony Beshara is online at thejobsearchsolution.com.

Fr Greg Friedman is online at franciscanmedia.org.

Brian O'Neel, author of "39 New Saints You Should Know"


Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Mark Armstrong's article on aborted fetal tissue used in flavor testing is up at catholiclane.com.


Shane Kapler is online at explainingchristianity.com.


For information on Steve Ray's talks today at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Beechmont Ave, call 513-388-4466.


Cheryl Dickow is online at bezalelbooks.com.