Catholic Church: Priests shouldn’t perform weddings on cruise ships

The Catholic News Service is reporting the Catholic Church plans to issue new guidelines for priests serving on cruise ships that, among other things, forbid them from performing weddings while at sea.

The news service says regional directors of the Church’s Apostleship of the Sea program meeting at the Vatican on Feb. 9 ratified the new guidelines, which authorize priests to offer blessings for newlyweds or couples celebrating wedding anniversaries on ships but not to marry them outright.

The document also says priests serving as chaplains on cruise ships can and should offer daily and Sunday Masses, as well as ecumenical prayer services when required, the news service says, and it encourages priests to make themselves available not just to passengers but to cruise ship crew members.

Full Article

Posted in Spiritual | Comments Off on Catholic Church: Priests shouldn’t perform weddings on cruise ships

Utah eyeing elimination of 12th grade

Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars says his state should make 12th grade optional to students who have already completed their required high school credits.

The Los Angeles Times said Monday while Buttars initially proposed the complete elimination of 12th grade to trim spending, he has since suggested the state try to save as much as $60 million by making the grade optional.

Utah State Sen. Howard A. Stephenson applauded the proposal from Buttars, a Republican.

“The bottom line is saving taxpayer dollars while improving options for students,” said Stephenson, another Republican. “The more options we give to students to accelerate, the more beneficial it is to students and taxpayers.”

Full Article

Posted in Goofy | Comments Off on Utah eyeing elimination of 12th grade