David Crabtree on Assignment

Catholics jubilant over choice of new pope

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:30:46 -0400

For the first time in several days, Rome saw sunny skies Thursday, and the mood of the city matched the weather.

Pope Francis quickly shows dynamic qualities

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:51:44 -0400

People often ask me, "What's the best thing about your job?" The answer is always the same, "I'm reminded every day how little I know. It's so freeing to realize there's so much more in life to learn." Never has that been more apparent than this week.

New pope brings renewed hope for local Catholics

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:25:11 -0400

Roman Catholics in the Triangle reacted with excitement and were filled with hope Wednesday afternoon upon receiving the news that Pope Francis, a Jesuit cardinal from Argentina, has been chosen to lead the church.

Eyes on Vatican as papal conclave begins secret voting

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:32:47 -0400

Black smoke was expected for this first vote of the papal conclave, and black smoke is what streamed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Tuesday afternoon.

Raleigh couple: Seeing white smoke inspires faith

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:44:36 -0400

As millions worldwide wait for the selection of a new pope, thousands of visitors to the Vatican are watching the historic proceedings first-hand. It's an experience a Raleigh couple says they will never forget.

Raleigh bishop: Pope taught 'truth with compassion'

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:17:28 -0400

Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh - one of the fastest growing in the country - says he is a great admirer of Pope Benedict XVI. The last time he visited the Vatican, Benedict gave him a cross.

A sign of the times: Full view of cardinals as conclave begins

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:14:23 -0400

What an extraordinary sight. The 115 Cardinals who will elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, slowly processing into the Sistine Chapel. Extraordinary not only because of the weighty matter of their work, but because the Church opened another window for us to look through. Not just peek behind the curtain, but a full view. From several angles, we saw them, heard them chant and saw the grim look on their faces. What's before these men is historic to the church and the world.

NC Catholics in Rome want 'young, vibrant' pope

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:42:25 -0400

As the world waits for a new pope to greet crowds of the faithful in Vatican City this week, several people from the Triangle will be among them.

UNC student: Catholic Church has 'lost its moral standing'

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:19:12 -0400

Gabriella Kostrzewa has always known Catholicism. The 21-year-old junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says she still loves the church, yet admits something is missing.

Rome alive with excitement, anticipation of conclave

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:29:57 -0400

The conclave begins Tuesday, and today Rome and Vatican City are alive. The solemness of the weekend has evaporated and excitement has returned.

Raleigh religious leaders: Choice of pope 'matters to the world'

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:28:32 -0400

Why does the selection of a new pope matter to the world, particularly to people of non-Roman Catholic faith. David Crabtree spoke with a priest, imam and rabbi in Raleigh to find out.

Electing a pope: World focuses on Rome

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:11:47 -0400

Rome is once again the focus of the world. Electing the bishop of Rome, the pope, is serious business.

70 years later, English town still remembers deadly German bombs

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:40:44 -0500

WRAL News anchor David Crabtree was in Coventry, England Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 for a ceremony that remembers deadly German bombing that happened over a 14-day period in 1940.

Musical masterpiece interprets crucifixion

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:05:14 -0400

It's been sixteen hours since the last note of James McMillan's masterpiece was played yet the reverberations of the music are still felt. Not only the powerful score performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but also the mental and emotional images brought forth by the music, the passionate lyrics and the setting of the ancient Chapel at King's College. To say the performance was brilliant is an understatement of great magnitude.

Visiting the 'Round Church'

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 08:33:59 -0400

WRAL's David Crabtree shared this video of his tour of the "Round Church" in Cambridge, England. It was built in 1130 by Crusaders and modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Holy Week at Cambridge

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:37:28 -0400

Walking the streets of Cambridge, I sense the presence of those who walked before me.

Just a bishop ... someday

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:01:59 -0400

Edinburgh, Scotland

By the numbers ...

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:11:00 -0400

From this morning's London Times, by the numbers ...

Tell your story

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:13:57 -0400

"There will be heavy security in and around the Cathedral."

Relentlessly optimistic

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:36:01 -0400

Five years ago today, I buried my mother. For 47 years, she was married to my father. It was not a marriage without struggles. Like most middle-class families of the ‘50s and ‘60s, we had our dysfunction, our issues, our worries and our periods of pain. Much was self-inflicted. In the midst of this, my mother kept her sense of humor, her love of the living Christ and her joy of hope. It became her legacy of positive thinking and went well beyond talk of glasses being half full or half empty.

Tales from Canterbury

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:27:56 -0400

Canterbury is special – really special. It was special to Saint Thomas Becket. It was special to Geoffrey Chaucer. It was special to the 11-year-old who began the Christmas Eve mass last year with his seamless singing of “Now in David’s Royal City.” It has been special to countless pilgrims and to those who call it home.

It's Bigger Than Me!

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:34:31 -0400

No matter how humble we try to be, I think it’s safe to say all of us have our moments. Ego can take over, and we feel some sense, some rush of something that feels like power. When that happens, we feel sort of big.

New York Is Ready

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:50:58 -0400

New York is a marvelous place to spend time. It’s fitting that Pope Benedict XVI chose to split his time between America’s capital and America’s largest city. He left Washington this morning, accomplishing much of what he set out to do.

Pope's Visit Brings Renewed Hope

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:27:29 -0400

"I was greatly moved as our Holy Father reached out to leaders of other faiths desiring to work together to bring peace to the most troubled parts of the world," writes Msgr. Tim O'Connor, of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary.

A Mass for the Masses

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:40:24 -0400

Close to 50,000 people filled Nationals Park like it was the opening day of the World Series. They cheered as the Holy Father emerged from, of all things, the dugout!

This Is Historic

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:30:07 -0400

The theme of Pope Benedict's visit is "a message of hope," and those we've talked with who have either seen Benedict XVI or heard his voice say they "believe it."

The Pope's Visit: What's the Big Deal?

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:44:06 -0400

I’ve heard that question asked by several of my friends and acquaintances, none who are Roman Catholic. If totally honest, I have to admit that up until 15 years ago, I might have had the same question.

One on One With Frank Ballance

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:47:57 -0500

In his first extended interview since his conviction, former North Carolina congressman Frank Ballance says his biggest mistake was pleading guilty rather than going to trial. He also said some former friends are "nowhere to be found."

Excuse me...are you going to eat that?

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:31:00 -0400

Same song... yet another verse

Tue, 23 May 2006 10:38:00 -0400

Land Sharks...from California...to DC to Chapel Hill

Tue, 09 May 2006 12:32:00 -0400

There was a time...

Tue, 02 May 2006 05:53:00 -0400

How Much Should You Know?

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:16:00 -0400

Mr. Speaker.........

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:16:00 -0400

Silence is Deafening

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 10:10:00 -0500

Where were they?

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:47:00 -0500

Not A Good Day

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:55:00 -0500

Islamaphobia?

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 11:08:00 -0500

Is it just me?

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 16:20:00 -0500

School Daze

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:11:00 -0500