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Matt Malone, S.J.April 09, 2014

New York, NY (April 9, 2014) – Editor in Chief of America, Fr. Matt Malone, S.J., announced today the appointment of Helen Alvaré as America’s newest contributing columnist in print and online.  

The appointment of Helen Alvaré is part of our continuing commitment to leading the conversation about faith and culture in the United States,” said Father Malone, “and to include more voices of women in our pages and a greater variety of voices from the Catholic world. Ms. Alvare's scholarship and advocacy are well known and universally respected in the Catholic community.”

An accomplished public figure, Ms. Alvaré is currently a Professor of Law at George Mason University School of Law, where she teaches Family Law, Law and Religion, and Property Law.  She also serves as chair of the Catholic Women’s Forum, as a consultor for the Pontifical Council of the Laity, an advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and as an ABC news consultant. She cooperates with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations on matters concerning women and the family.

In addition to her publications in law reviews and other academic journals on matters concerning marriage, parenting, non-marital households, abortion and the First Amendment religion clauses, Alvaré also publishes regularly in news outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, the Weekly Standard, and the Washington Examiner.  She often speaks at academic and professional conferences in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Australia.

Welcome, Professor Alvaré!

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Anne Chapman
9 years 11 months ago
Ms. Alvare is among the most vocal voices representing the very small minority of Catholic women who oppose the use of modern methods of birth control. She is also a champion of the so called "authentic" feminism and "feminine genius" - which, when you remove the flowery prose are simply plain old-fashioned Catholic patriarchy dressed up to try to fool women into thinking that the church has gained some respect for them. It hasn't, and unfortunately, it seems that America has not either. . I do hope that as you add women to your writing and editorial staff, you will also seek out those such as Cathleen Kaveney who offer a more balanced and representative (of the majority of Catholic women) viewpoint on these matters.
Vince Killoran
9 years 11 months ago
I agree with Anne--why not bring more women on board (and not all so "institutional")? Of course, I'm willing to read Alvare and appreciate the wide range of views that appear in AMERICA.
Anne Chapman
9 years 11 months ago
While it I think it is a good thing that America is proactively recruiting women to the staff, and while joining you in appreciating that America has generally offered a range of views, it is a bit disconcerting that the magazine in recent months also seems to be strongly tilting towards one side of the spectrum when it comes to certain issues within the church. If America loses the balance formerly offered, it will be a loss to those who have valued America's willingness to publish the views of those who sometimes challenge church teaching. Their experience with Rome forcing out Thomas Reese made them more cautious, but one hopes they won't simply become one more journal that never challenges the "conventional" interpretations of some teachings.
Vince Killoran
9 years 11 months ago
Agreed. They should not become a USCCB organ.
Bill Mazzella
9 years 11 months ago
Their is no danger of that. Talk of intolerance on the left!!
Vince Killoran
9 years 11 months ago
Now if the NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER and FIRST THINGS could follow AMERICA'S example. . .
Linda Pinto
9 years 11 months ago
The selection of Ms. Alvare can only be judged as wise if you have other voices on staff who balance her minority opinion with regard to the place of women in church and society. My "authentic feminist genius" comes from the fact that I am created in the image of God, equal and sacred, without be relegated to roles defined by others.
Bill Mazzella
9 years 11 months ago
I have always wondered that I have liked many people who did not share my point of view while I found many difficult who had similar views. A serious problem is that many Catholics who are committed disciples rail at each other without any attempts at real dialogue. So I see this as a positive and one that Cardinal Berardine would have favored. We have to seek a common ground as we build up the Body of Christ.
Mary Puthawala
9 years 11 months ago
I am confused by the reference to the word "minority," presumably used to refer to some imagined tiny faction that Ms. Alvaré represents in some previous comments. Depending on how many Catholic women have opinions that they feel strongly about, over 41,000 feel that Ms. Alvaré is a stellar representative for Catholic women. To learn more about this, one can simply go to womenspeakforthemselves.com, which she co-founded. She is extremely well qualified, intelligent, well versed in Catholic doctrine and informed, especially since, (speaking as one of the 41,000), I feel so poorly represented elsewhere. Thank you for stepping up, Professor Alvaré! I eagerly await your debut!
Beth Cioffoletti
9 years 11 months ago
I look forward to reading Ms. Alvare. I admire her solid foundation of respect for women and their unique roles. I'm most curious to see how she addresses misogyny, and the repeated pregnancies of women who truly have no choice.
Frank Gibbons
9 years 11 months ago
Bravo, Father Malone!
Sandi Sinor
9 years 11 months ago
A few months ago, America published an all-woman writers issue (at least, mostly women), and pledged to publish more articles by women. Better-late-than-never anyway. Yes, gentlemen, there ARE women who are intelligent, educated and good writers and we're so happy that you are finally awakening to this reality. Ms. Alvare has strong credentials and is an intelligent spokesperson for one group of Catholics, but only one group. I hope America will also invite women to their staff whose views are more representative of most Catholic women (and their husbands!). There have been several articles in America in the last several months that strongly promote NFP (as does Ms Alvare) without any counterbalancing articles. One woman pointed this out in a letter to the editor, but there still haven't been any articles that present the arguments of those who propose changing this teaching. There are even a couple of bishops who are now suggesting that the sensus fidelium has spoken on this matter and think that the PTB should pay attention and belatedly adopt the report of the Birth Control Commission that supported changing the teaching by a large majority of voting bishops. The imbalance in America's articles on this subject raise a bit of a red flag because it seems America is choosing to ignore the views of the majority of Catholic women, on this issue at least. Will this lack of balance also occur in selecting articles on other issues related to women and marriage?
Matthew Malone
9 years 11 months ago
My brothers and sisters: Be not afraid! He is risen!

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