The organizers of the Chicago Gay Pride Parade made some changes so as not to interfere with mass at a Lakeview Catholic Church. As they quietly made the change, though, Cardinal Francis George compared the pride parade to a KKK rally. more ›

A Catholic priest pleaded guilty today to felony theft charges in an attempt to be eligible for probation. Rev. John Regan admitted that he stole over $400,000 from his St. Walter Parish in Roselle between 2006 and 2008. Regan used the money to fuel his gambling addiction and to pay off credit card debt. Regan's plea is part of a reduced plea deal that could make eligible for probation, but prosecutor Helen Kapas said she intends to seek a prison term of up to 15 years and full restitution. more ›

From yesterday's Sun-Times, Carol Marin, in her own inimitable way, tells Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki (pictured) to STFU already about the recently passed civil unions bill. Paprocki, head of the Springfield Diocese, emerged as one of the stronger opponents of the bill and offered a stern warning to Gov. Quinn against signing the bill into law. "(I)f (Quinn) wishes to speak as a Catholic, then he is accountable to Catholic authority, and the Catholic Church does not support civil unions or other measures that are contrary to the natural moral law,” Paprocki wrote last week. more ›

Frank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, a group of "reform-minded Catholics" that want "meaningful action" taken against how the church handles sexual abuse scandals, made an unusual donation of $200 to the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago on Saturday. It wasn't the amount that was unusual as much as how it was given -- all in pennies. more ›

The Gay Liberation Network, Chicago's grassroots LGBT advocacy organization, reports some 100 protesters showed up on Sunday, Valentine's Day, for a picket outside of the Holy Name Cathedral's morning services. Emboldened by Chicago Archbishop Cardinal George's recent condemnation of a gay-positive ministry as inauthentic to Catholic teachings, protesters sought to highlight the role the church has played in blocking legal victories for LGBT people. more ›

It seems we spoke too soon last week when we defended Cardinal Francis George, Chicago Archbishop and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops top dog, against gay activists' call for protest of the Holy Name Cathedral Sunday. more ›

In recognition of National Freedom to Marry Day, the Chicago-based LGBT advocacy organization Gay Liberation Network has planned an informational picket of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral for Sunday, Feb. 14. The picket is intended to "highlight the role the Church’s leadership has played in promoting inequality." more ›

• A man recently paroled after almost 30 years in jail for rape has been charged with a sexual assault that occurred early Tuesday in Lincoln Park.
• There's a bit of trouble for Mayor Daley's press secretary Jacquelyn Heard as it seems like she's the owner of a reputed drug house.
• Someone's taken their political differences too far: Cook Co. Commissioner Deborah Sims received racist and threatening phone calls over her decision to switch sides and back Todd Stroger's tax veto.

Fred Thompson officially drops out of the presidential race. [Trib] more ›

Gothamist learned about the craziest urban nightmare come true: A huge python found in the bathroom pipes. It was also a nightmare for some Yankees fans, as manger Joe Torre declined to come back and manage the Bronx Bombers. At least the city's attempt to give some direction to subway riders was interesting, pranksters went shirtless at the Fifth Avenue Abercrombie & Fitch and the I Heart Brooklyn Girls calendars came out. And just... more ›

SHOOTING: Two homeless men shot in a 24 hour span in Uptown -- they appear to be unrelated. In more shooting news (why is there so much?!): Police have two "persons of interest" in custody Sunday morning after two teenagers were shot in a playlot on the South Side in the Woodlawn neighborhood, blocks from the University of Chicago campus. TRAINS: Our dear friend warns us: This is why you NEVER put headphones in... more ›

We've gone around and about a lot of times about a couple key subjects: How relevant losing Marshall Fields is in the grand scheme of things, Hipster/Yuppie, where does Whole Foods play into the life of a person looking to eat healthy and live on a budget? But another topic that never fails to get someone's ire up is that of biker vs. driver vs. pedestrian vs. driver vs. biker. Most people realize that there... more ›

Before we turn the controls to this lean, mean rocket over to the Tims this weekend, here are some other items in the news. A new law aimed at helping teenagers become better drivers allows their parents to review their driving records online. Two 911 operators who royally screwed up a call for police help during a July brawl at Durkin Park on the Southwest Side have been suspended without pay. A new program... more ›

As some would say, God, or what have you, works in mysterious ways. Some might call those ways cruel and unusual. Others might shrug their shoulders and say, "Que sera sera." (Those people are usually Portuguese or Hitchcock fans, we surmise.) Whatever's behind the Fickle Finger of Fate, it pointed straight at Cardinal Francis George on Saturday when he fell during a pre-Easter blessing ceremony and fractured his hip. more ›

August 15th has a special meaning to Croatian nationals, Croatian Americans, and Croatian Catholics. It is on the 15th that they celebrate the Velika Gospa; translated, it means the holiday of the Great Lady Mary. The celebration has its roots in the Venetian era. On August 7th, 1715, the Turkish army, under the leadership of Mehmed Pasa, sent an envoy under heavily armed escort to the Croatian fortress town of Sinj, with an offer to... more ›

Chicagoist is a big believer in human rights. In fact, we think us humans should have more rights. For one, every living soul should have the right to visit Wisconsin Dells at least once and bask in its wonderful tackiness. Two, everyone should have the right to walk on a sidewalk without falling through giant holes. We're frivolous like that. Lastly, one should be able to go through life without looking like a celebrity because, really, what kind of life could that possibly be? more ›

Where's Bakken when we need him? This is tailor-made for his unique wisdom. This story is fresh in our minds mainly because we saw Wrestlemania last weekend. Jim Hellwig is best known by his wrestling moniker "The Ultimate Warrior". Hellwig takes that a bit too seriously, having legally changed his name to "Warrior" years ago and posting his life philosophy on his insane website. These days Hellwig and his angry inch travels the campus lecture... more ›

Cardinal Francis George joined a chorus of others in a virtual hymn of condemnation against the Chicago-based Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission, a religious organization with hopes to be recognized as a Catholic order but which has been described by Archbishop Jerome Hanus of Dubuque, Iowa as having the characteristics of a cult. more ›