Catching up on news

Earlier this week, Catholic News Service reported that "Father David Gaffny recently concelebrated Mass for the first time in more than 35 years.... (After the) father of three, grandfather of six and former Maryknoll priest, lost his wife of 31 years in July 2001, he began to discern what to do with the rest of his life. It was natural for him to return to the full exercise of priestly ministry. After returning to seminary studies for a brief period, he was accepted as a priest for the Nashville Diocese. While he always retained the 'indelible mark' of holy orders, Father Gaffny had not acted as a priest since 1969, the year he sought laicization to marry..."

In other news earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation (for undisclosed ailments) of Bishop Raymond J. Boland of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo. He is succeeded by his coadjutor, Bishop Robert W. Finn.

The Holy Father also named Msgr. Peter Doyle, a priest of the diocese of Portsmouth, as bishop of Northampton, U.K.