Pursuing the Truth in Love: The mission of ‘America’ in a 21st-century church
The mission of America, wrote its first editor in chief, is not only to “chronicle events of the day and the progress of the church” but also to “stimulate effort and originate movements for the betterment of the masses.” When John Wynne, S.J., penned those words in 1909, he
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
This December marks the 50th anniversary of “Inter Mirifica,” the “Decree on the Means of Social Communication” promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. The decree is one of the guiding lights for America. The reflections on our mission and identity in this issue are heavil
Letters
Reply All
Tears of JoyAs the grandparent of a Providence College student, I saw the “Papal Embrace” before it became viral on the Web. But, in looking at it anew on the cover of the April 29 issue, I gained a new appreciation of the sanctity of the moment caught not by the central characters, but
Editorials
Food Aid for Whom?
Much-needed reforms in the way food aid is delivered may be thwarted in Congress.
Faith in Focus
Love Aflame: Recovering an old devotion
One of the strongest images I have of my paternal grandparents’ home in east Tennessee is of a rather large print of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that hung at the far end of their hallway. My grandmother told me that she and Grandpa had received it as a wedding gift in 1946. It had…
Books
Pilgrims Without Progress
‘The Unwinding’ by George Packer
A Legend Unraveled
Cesar Chavez is widely considered a great American hero. But ‘From the Jaws of Victory’ by Matt Garcia explores some of the activist’s flaws not often acknowledged by those who know only the legend.
Background Check
Two new books on Pope Francis; neither can be considered a true biography.
Film
All That Glitters: Baz Luhrmann presents an overwrought ‘Gatsby’ for the digital age
Baz Luhrmann presents an overwrought ‘Gatsby’ for the digital age
Poetry
Citrus Paradisi: For Anna
The 2013 Foley poetry prize winning poem, by Chelsea Wagenaar
Forays of the imagination: This year’s Foley poetry contest
By the time of March Madness, entries were pouring in for the Foley poetry contest, with its $1,000 prize. We heard from Ljubljana, Slovenia; Alicante, Spain; Lagos, Nigeria; and Vatican City; plus Dijon, Edmonton, Queensland and Kerala State.Forty entries came to us from the seventh grade at Lakesi
The Word
A Woman Beloved by God
Jesus rsquo love for the weak and marginalized is made manifest in a powerful account in Luke rsquo s Gospel as is the human willingness to label and disenfranchise people we consider less worthy In today rsquo s narrative Jesus suggests that we start to identify who we truly are in relationship
Rise Up!
The prophet Elijah ldquo went to Zarephath of Sidon to the house of a widow rdquo While Elijah was at the widow rsquo s home her son died Already bereft of a husband which itself often led women into poverty in the ancient world she has now lost her son the remaining source of her…
Columns
Thumbs Way Up!
In 2010 the film critic Roger Ebert told Esquire: “All is well. I am as I should be.”
Current Comment
Big and Little Wars
The sheer volume of U.S. military interventions comes as something of a shock.
Signs Of the Times
Despite Truce, Violence Plagues El Salvador
A truce among El Salvador’s street gangs has resulted in a dramatic reduction in homicides.
Church Enjoys Fastest Growth in Asia, Africa
At the end of 2011, the Catholic population worldwide reached 1.214 billion.
Pope Calls for Ethics Reforms, End to ‘Cult of Money’
“Money has to serve, not to rule,” Pope Francis said. ” We have created new idols.”
News Briefs
In Rome on May 9, Sally Hodgdon of the United States, superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, was elected vice president of the International Union of Superiors General, a body that includes 1,900 religious orders of women worldwide. • Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York on May 13
Uniting Against Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is so widespread that U.S. congregations of women religious are uniting in a nationwide effort to limit its reach. For years individual congregations have run human trafficking awareness programs regionally. Sister Margaret Nacke, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kan., sa
Gosnell and the ‘Ugliness of Abortion’
Dr. Kermit Gosnell was convicted on May 13 of murder at his Philadelphia abortion clinic, but “nothing can bring back the innocent children he killed, or make up for the vulnerable women he exploited,” said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap., of Philadelphia. In a statement on May
Washington Front
Dear Prudence
Beware those who insist that public choices are simply matters of “prudential judgment.”
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