Gary Coleman (1968-2010)

A few days ago, we said goodbye to Art Linkletter, and now another celeb has left us. Actor (and politician) Gary Coleman, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes, and who ran as a independent in the California election that recalled former Gov. Gray Davis (D) and elected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), passed away today. He was 42.

Art Linkletter (1912-2010)

TV personality Art Linkletter, who entertained countless people with such shows as Kids Say the Darnest Things, People Are Funny, and House Party, died yesterday at his home in Bel Air, CA. He was 92.

In addition to his contributions to the entertainment industry, Art was also a staunch Republican, one of the few conservative stalwarts in Hollywood. The Canadian-born friend of Ronald Reagan, Linkletter served as national chaiman of USA Next, a conservative alternative to the AARP.

Art was also known for turning tradgedy into triumph. When his daughter Diane commited suicide in 1969 after an alleged LSD trip, Art went around the country to promote drug prevention among children. Art released some pre-recorded talks entitled We Love You, Call Collect, which included responses from Diane entitled Dear Mom and Dad. The record earned Art a Grammy in 1970 for Best Spoken Word.

He will be missed.

Robin Roberts (1926-2010)

After I left class this morning, I tuned into The Inside Pitch on WPHT (I had forgotten that the Phillies played an afternoon game) when I heard Ricky Bottalico announce that Hall of Famer and fellow Phillies pitching alum Robin Roberts had passed away at his Florida home this morning. He was 83.


Roberts was the star pitcher during the Whiz Kids era. He had consecutive 20-win seasons between 1950-1955 and helped lead the Phillies to an NL pennant in 1950. He compiled a 286-245 career record between the Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs with 305 complete games and 45 shutouts.

Probably one of Roberts' best known games was in 1954 when he gave up a home run to the Cincinnati Reds' Bobby Adams. Roberts then proceeded to retire 27 batters to one-hit the Reds and give the Phillies an 8-1 victory.

He will be missed.

Paul Augustine Cardinal Mayer, O.S.B. (1911-2010)

Paul Cardinal Mayer, the oldest living cardinal in the Catholic Church, went to his eternal reward today, he was twenty three days short of his 99th birthday.

Card. Mayer served as Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship by Ven. John Paul II in 1984. He served in that position until 1988 when he was appointed the first president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, which sought to reconcile the Society of St. Pius X, whose illegal (but valid) ordinations of four new bishops by their superior, the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, led to the bishops' excommunication. The excommunications have since been lifted by Pope Benedict XVI and talks for full communion are ongoing. He served as president until 1991.

He was also the abbot of St. Michael's Abbey in Metten, Bavaria, served as secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the Second Vatican Council, and was the Secretary of the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes.

Please pray for the happy repose of his soul. Requiescat in Pace. +

Rev. Msgr. Charles P. Barth, J.C.D. (1929-2010)

The former pastor of my parish and a dear friend of mine, Msgr. Charles P. Barth, passed away last Sunday, at the age of 80. He died while he was on vacation in Wisconsin doing what he loved the most besides serving God's people, fishing.

A Philadelphia native, Msgr. Barth attended Mount St. Mary's Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Camden in 1956 by the late-Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace. Msgr. Barth served as vicar for the City of Camden, chairman of the Commission for Social Justice and for the Moral Committee, and was secretary for the Diocesan Building Commission.

Msgr. Barth served as pastor at Christ the King, Haddonfield (1974-78); St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden (1978-85); St. Agnes, Blackwood (1985-93); St. Peter, Merchantville (1993-2000); and as administrator for St. Anthony of Padua, Hammonton (2003-2005) and St. Martin de Porres, Hammonton (July-September 2005).

May his soul and the souls of the faithful rest in peace.

Rep. John Murtha (1932-2010)

It's no secret that I disagreed with the Rep. John Murtha (D-Pennsylvania) on a few things. I believed that his irresponsible pork-barrel spending was running our country down and placing a burden on the taxpayer. I thought that he said a lot of boneheaded commenets and bullied his constitutents. I believed that he was a puppet for Nancy Pelosi in unfair games used by the Democrats to intimidate the Republican minority in the House. And I was especially appalled as someone who regarded John Murtha as one of the last hopes for the pro-life Democrats did a quick about face on the right-to-life issue once he gained a strong voice in the House Democrat leadership. And of course there's ABSCAM.

That being said, I also want to focus on on the good side of John Murtha, a 19-year House veteran who passed away today in Virginia after complications from gallbladder surgery. Probably the thing we have the most in common besides a love for our country (Murtha was a Vietnam vet who was still serving in the Marine Reserves when he was first elected to Congress), was a change of heart on the War in Iraq. Known to be a hawkish Democrat, Murtha later supported bringing our troops home after the inconsistency and imbalance the Bush administration showed in its handling of the conflict, which in retrospect was preemptive and undeclared. But I believe that John Murtha was motivated as one who saw the terrors of war, rather than a politician seeking to climb the political ladder, in his support of withdrawal. The words of the great Army general, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, come to mind when I think of Murtha's change of heart: “There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs”.

While I disagreed with him, I pray that he did ask God for mercy, even if it was at that last moment. I pray for the soul of John Murtha and I ask you to do the same.

Developments in Haiti

Thousands are either dead or injured after Tuesday's devasting earthquake in Haiti. Among those who lost their lives was Archbishop Joseph Miot of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince who was a priest for 34 years and a bishop for 12 (archbishop for less than one year). According to the Papal Nuncio to Haiti, Bishop Bernardito Auza, hundreds of priests and seminarians were trapped in the rubble when churches (including the Cathedral) were destroyed. Please continue to pray for those affected by the earthquake and the emergency workers continue the rescue effort.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Click here to donate to Catholic Relief Services or the Knights of Columbus' "United in Charity" campaign by clicking here in their emergency efforts.

2. This Sunday, the Catholic Bishops have announced that an emergency collection will be taken up this Sunday for CRS's services. Please be generous and donate even a small amount. Remember, God is never outdone in generosity.

Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010)

The man who defined the Sound of Philadelphia died last night at the age of 59 at Bryn Mawr Hospital of colon cancer.