Published July 23, 2010

(Rainer Ebert/Flickr)

What do you call a Catholic who stops going to church for a few years? What about someone who disposes of the faith altogether?

The Catholic church calls them “lapsed Catholics,” a term that Radio Boston host Meghna Chakrabarti used Thursday when talking with representatives of the Boston Archdiocese. The church’s new ad campaign, “Catholics Come Home,” is designed to lure strays back to flock.

On wbur.org, Lynn Annen commented:

I find the term insulting. The Catholic Church might want to refer to me as a “lapsed Catholic”, but I am very happy to call myself an Episcopalian!

And Meghna responded:

I did not intend to use the term ‘lapsed’ in the same way that some officials might (i.e. to indicate any personal failing in the person that’s chosen to leave the church). I simply used it interchangably with other phrases as a form of conversational shorthand. However, you make a strong case that it might be best to stick with the clear and simple ‘former Catholic.’ However, now that I think about it, I’ve heard other Catholics take offense to using the term ‘former,’ because to them, their faith remains resolute. It’s the institution of the church that departed from them.

See why this is so interesting?

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Published July 23, 2010

Pancakes play the leading role at the International Pancake Film Fest this weekend. (Olya/Flickr)

If you’ve never been to the Harbor Islands, you’ve been missing a real gem (or rather, 17 gems, all just a 45-minute or so ferry ride away from the city). There is plenty going on to get you out there this weekend, including a Food Network-worthy face-off and the masterful sounds of pianist Carmen Spada. Or just pack a picnic, hike a trail or play in the sand. You’ll feel like you’re hundreds of miles away from the city — if it weren’t for the stellar views of the Beantown skyline.

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Published July 23, 2010

Chief Justice Margaret Marshall in 2004 (AP)

When a Supreme Court justice retires, a window opens for the sitting president to solidify his legacy. For Clinton, it was Breyer and Ginsburg. For Bush, it was Alito and Roberts. For Obama, it’s Sotomayor and, it would appear, Kagan.

But what about Gov. Deval Patrick? In just one term as governor, Patrick has already appointed two justices to Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court. And with the retirement of Chief Justice Margaret Marshall in October, Patrick will appoint a third.

State judges aren’t usually famous, and most people probably don’t remember that Republican Gov. Bill Weld appointed Marshall in 1996.

But she will surely be remembered as the judge who changed gay marriage in America. She ruled with the majority in the landmark decision of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, 2003. Marshall was also the Bay State’s first female chief justice.

If recent history is a guide, it’s unlikely Patrick will appoint someone outside of the high court to serve as its leader. That turns attention to Associate Justice Roderick Ireland, who is black, said former Justice John Greaney today on Morning Edition. Greaney said to also watch out for Justices Ralph Gants (his successor) and Margot Botsford. The Globe floated Justice Robert Cordy as another possible candidate.

Patrick said he wants to appoint someone with Marshall’s legal “touch.” Whoever it is, it will surely emerge as an issue in the final days of the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Published July 23, 2010

A Citgo sunset (Tyson Cecka/Flickr)

Boston’s favorite landmark, which you can see from anywhere and which has withstood five hurricanes, is going dark for a few months. And then really, really bright. The Venezuelan oil company Citgo is replacing 218,000 LED lights with more modern, environmentally friendly, weather-resistant ones.

The 45-year-old sign went dark for four years during the energy crisis. In 1982, when Citgo announced plans to dismantle it, the Fenway faithful staged an uproar. It stayed on until 2005, when the sign briefly went dark to replace neon tubes with LEDs.

It’s certainly one of the most photographed signs. Flickr has a group dedicated to the landmark. BU Today, Boston University’s in-house news staff, produced a great visual retrospective when Citgo announced the renovation plans earlier this year. It even showed up in my 30-second Boston fireworks video. And WBUR Web developer Will Smith once wondered, would we love it as much if it were a BP sign?

The company says the sign will be restored by Sept. 2, just in time for baseball playoffs.