Christmas reading recommendations from our literary editor.

An analysis of the encyclical 'Spe Salvi'

Cardinal William Keeler and Catholic-Jewish relations

Stem cell breakthrough, new bishops in China, Oregon abuse settlement

Are significant changes in the synod process likely?

With its vividly re-enacted scenes of torture, book burning and violence, the PBS series “Secret Files of the Inquisition” made clear that stereotypical views of the Inquisition are not going away anytime soon. It also ensured that a negative interpretation of this Catholic history will

No Simple Answers The editorial Amnesty and Abortion (10/29) raises difficult questions. I agree that we should continue to reach out to those with whom we disagree. But I think it is incorrect to say that Amnesty Inter-national adopts a utilitarian calculus. It is a murky world in which we work, a

Identifying immigrants, violence against women, the rise of Hugo Chavez

Looking for alternative models of catechesis.

A lawyer hopes for an end to capital punishment.

The ever prolific Gerald O Collins has reviewed Pope Benedict s encyclical Spe Salvi for America An early preview is now online Here s a taste The pope s message combines a pastor s concern for his people with a scholarly use of the scriptures and an effective appeal to some great v

The Gospel readings for the Second and Third Sundays of Advent always focus on John the Baptist Since we are again in Lectionary Year A the two selections are from Matthew 3 1-12 and 11 2-11 respectively See my Nov 27 post for an overview of the whole Season of Advent Given that John the

Here is America editor Matt Malone S J on Mitt Romney s presidential campaign and his attempt to convince voters his Mormon faith should not be an issue in the 2008 presidential campaign Watch it here UPDATE Matt Malone s article on God and Politics is now online

Feminists were made happy on reading two headlines in last Tuesday s New York Times One headline reads Girls Make History by Sweeping Top Honors at a Science Contest The other reports In Iran Group of Mothers Criticizes Nuclear Policy Concerned Iranian women calling themselves M

This is going to be unspeakably cool Narnia fans will know that Prince Caspian is the second book of the Narnia series It occurs chronologically after The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe but in terms of Narnia history is after The Magician s Nephew which institutes Narnian history It

The New Republic has just put out one of their best issues in years It s hard to know which article to recommend first Included in an issue that focuses on the death or dearth of book reviewing on the face of it a topic that would make only authors upset though the mag prove otherwise ar

As the passages from Isaiah 11 1-10 and Matthew 3 1-12 illustrate we await the coming of the peaceable Kingdom the fulfillment of the promises of God the establishment of the Kingdom that shall not end And we await it in the context of history otherwise known as our ordinary lives Christianity

Kudos to my friend and colleague Bill McGarvey over at BustedHalo for snagging an interview with author Richard Russo I m a big fan of Russo who is one of the funniest writers around Straight Man made me laugh as much as Lucky Jim Well almost as much Perceptive readers of Russo s fic