I m not sure what s worse about this story Nun Reads List of Curse Words to Kids That it was listed on MSN com s home page as one of the top stories of the day That so far 86 news organizations have picked it up Or that it caters to the same hoary anti-Catholic stereotypes about women re
Some of you may know that America s former editor Thomas Reese S J is a contributor to On Faith a blog co-sponsored by Newsweek and the Washington Post Well here s Fr Reese on Mitt Romney s speech on religion and politics Governor Mitt Romney s speech shows the importance of havi
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
For many Christians it has perhaps become commonplace to view Advent as a season of inevitability, a ritual expectation of the birth of the Son of God, surely, but one that lacks suspense. We already know how the story will turn out, dont we? The Holy Family will make it to Bethlehem; they will find
They start arriving in August: the interminable parade of catalogues hawking tantalizing Christmas wares. Before I have finished writing my High Holy Day sermons, before the start of school, long before the leaves have turned, before anyone has given the remotest thought to getting bags of candy for
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