Religion, Science and Substance Abuse
If ever the sum is greater than the parts, it is in combining the power of God, religion and spirituality with the power of science and professional medicine to prevent and treat substance abuse and addiction. That’s the good news from So Help Me God: Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality
Argentina: the Current Crisis in Perspective
The central issues of Argentina’s national life revolve around political power, charismatic leadership, economic development and effective democracy. These four elements have determined the course of events in Argentina’s struggle for social justice and economic stability since the begin
The Chilean Coup, the Church and the Human Rights Movement
One of the more bloody coup d’etats of modern times took place in Chile on Sept. 11, 1973. Twenty-eighth anniversaries are not usually much commemorated, but any time is a good time to reflect on one of the positive developments that resulted from that chaotic era: the growth of the modern hum
Fit to Be Tried?
Imagine a 12-year-old boy who has committed a brutal, senseless homicide. Now imagine a 47-year-old legislator who claims this child should be treated as if he were a mature adult. Which of these is behaving like a grown-up? Last year prosecutors in Florida put two 14-year-olds on trial as adults fo
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
As the number of women religious declines, the public’s fascination with them only increases. One of the most highly praised books published in 2000, for example, was Mark Salzman’s novel Lying Awake, an exquisitely written tale about the religious experiences of a cloistered nun. Also p
Letters
Letters
Renewed Commitment
While I welcome America’s interest in publishing an article in which a person relates his recovery from alcoholism to a renewed commitment to Catholicism (12/24/01), I am concerned that the article might give a mistaken impression of A.A. to those who know little about it (and so might discourage those in need of its…
Editorials
Enron and Immorality
According to classical economic theory, here is how a corporation is supposed to work in the capitalist system. Owned by its shareholders, a corporation is run by a board of directors, who are voted into office by the shareholders. The board, in turn, appoints managers, led by a chief executive offi
Faith in Focus
Who Prays to St. Valentine?
More than we imagine, probably. Hallmark. Fashion gurus. Purveyors of sentimental gifts. And I, too, once prayed to him.
Books
Beyond the Black Horizon
quot The past is a foreign country they do things differently there quot L H Hartley once famously said Few lives exemplify this better than Paul Robeson rsquo s Today one can go to movies or sports arenas or turn on the television and see black actors singers and athletes followed even
Culture Clashes
If you like church history and especially if you know and like Rome you will like this book Desmond O rsquo Grady is an author and journalist who lives in Rome and is perhaps best known for his Rome Reshaped Jubilees 1300-2000 He is not a professional historian perhaps an advantage in this cas
The Right Relationship
The Parish As Covenant A Call to Pastoral Partnership is a synthesis of wisdom about parish life based on Father Thomas Sweetser rsquo s years of leadership in The Parish Evaluation Project The Parish Assessment and Renewal Process his work with parishes experiencing pastor transitions and other
Film
Fellowship of the Wrong: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’
What follows should come with a warning label for a goodly number of longtime readers. It is time for us Catholics to turn up the lights and take a second look at that brand of mid-century Anglo-Catholicism from both sides of the papal divide that dominated our undergraduate days.
The Word
Jesus in the Dock
Lent developed backwards from a celebration of the paschal triduum when the catechumens were baptized and admitted to the Eucharist The Good Friday and Easter Vigil fast was gradually extended to a 40-day fast and after the conversion of the Roman Empire with the decline of adult baptism the se
Columns
Love Lessons From a Mother’s Heart
I remember my first clumsy efforts at cutting hearts from red paper to create a valentine for the person I loved most in the world, my mom. No matter how crooked the edges, she always praised my efforts as if they were priceless pieces of artwork. Although my mom died over 20 years ago, each…
News
Signs of the Times
In Assisi, Religious Leaders Call Violence, Religions IncompatibleViolence and terrorism are incompatible with the faith and belief of all the world’s religions, more than 200 spiritual leaders said during a meeting with Pope John Paul II in Assisi on Jan. 24. Since the terrorist attacks in Ne
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts