To evoke lively conversations, ask why so many Catholics no longer go to Mass. Some people will cite doctrinal issues like birth control, divorce and remarriage, and sexual mores. Others will speak of their experiences of the church as irrelevant to their lives. Others will cite church scandals; and

People seem open to mercy, emphasizing forgiveness over judgment, as never before.

We do not have to wait until the Holy Year begins to reach out to family and friends.

What can we expect from the pope on his three-state tour?

Cardinal Edward Michael Egan who died March 5 at the age of 82 may have had one of his greater moments as a churchman during 9-11 at Ground Zero In response to New York rsquo s Mayor Rudy Giuliani who needed to comfort and console his people before they even knew what had happened at 9-11 when p

If an academic pedigree is an indication the hierarchy of the U S bishops took a big step forward with the promotion of Auxiliary Bishop Robert W McElroy of San Francisco to Bishop of San Diego on March 3 News of the appointment was broken by blogger Rocco Palmo March 2 The 61-year-old prelate

An interview with the Archbishop of Washington, D.C.

As the Vatican prepares for the Synod of Bishops on the Family Oct 4 to 25 various individuals and groups are offering input on issues they want the synod to address I asked several U S Catholic pastors and other experts to note issues on which people go to clergy for help Most emphasized famil

The critics of popes past and present all have one things in common.

How do we attract more Hispanics, especially women, into religious communities?