A climate check on what the world is saying about the conclave.

nbsp On Saturday last I attended an intriguing seminar sponsored by The Vatican Observatory Foundation Its topic was astrobiology Astrobiology is a compound science which relies on astronomy biology chemistry to ask about the origin evolution distribution of life in the universe Are there h

nbsp Cambridge MA This Lenten series is dedicated to reflections on the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras a chapter dedicated to the ldquo yoga of action rdquo As I explained in the first and second entries however ldquo action rdquo here is more a spiritual and intellectual doing and und

One of the ways in which we interact with the Bible is through film and this is not a new undertaking for filmmakers. As Bible and Cinema: Fifty Key Films (London and New York: Routledge, 2013), edited by Adele Reinhartz, demonstrates, filmmakers have been making biblical films almost from the beginning of the movie industry. This is one of the compelling aspects of this book: it reviews films dating back to Life of Moses (1909-1910) and up to A Serious Man (2009), with every decade in between represented. It is also a difficult book to assess as it is not always clear on what basis films have been chosen for review or how one is to understand the book as a whole.

As immigration reform takes center stage in Washington, we offer a selection of articles from America on immigrants and the need for immigration reform:"Does the Gospel Speak to Immigration?" Michael O'Loughlin"Immigration Reform," Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney"The Other Ame

Two events out of the Spring meeting of the German Bishops Conference in the western town of Trier are worth noting today A diaconate for women was proposed by Cardinal Walter Kasper during a study day on Feb 21 discussing how to involve more women in church life today Kasper spoke of a ldquo dea

This just in from the Pew Forum on Religion amp Public Life Washington D C ndash As the pontificate of Benedict XVI winds down many American Catholics express a desire for change according to a new survey report by the Pew Research Center For example most Catholics say it would be good if t

From 1936, a Jesuit poet reviews the early poems of Robert Frost.

A FURTHER RANGE By Robert Frost. Henry Holt & Co. $2.50Robert Frost is said to possess an integrity all his own, one which has not yielded to the variations of present-day movements in poetry. This is true. It comes of his having a metaphysic of sorts. He believes, for instance, in an intrinsic

A modest proposal from James Martin, S.J.

Billy Wilder rsquo s movie The Last Weekend about the suicide of an alcoholic author won the 1946 Academy Award for Best Picture Wilder also garnered that year rsquo s Oscar for Best Director and Ray Milland won Best Actor portraying the final days of a binging alcoholic The film gained a four

In her new book Candida Moss explains the "myth of Christian persecution."

My mother was a great fan of Henry James. She kept his novels and essays in her bookcase along with books about the author and Leon Edel’s masterly five-volume biography, which she read end to end. I’ve always liked James too, though unlike true devotees I don’t adore his late work

Revelations in Los Angeles; My Kingdom for a Hearse; Impunity on Trial

On Feb. 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced a decision that will have far-reaching implications for the modern church.

A new path for pilgrims, trekkers and cyclists

What is the precedent for a pope to resign?TR: The number of popes who may have resigned has been estimated as high as 10, but the historical evidence is limited. Most recently, during the Council of Constance in the 15th century, Pope Gregory XII resigned to bring about the end of the Western Schis

The United Nations reports that the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has exceeded 265,000 and that it expects 1.1 million Syrian refugees overall in surrounding nations by June. • Human rights groups are concerned by reports that the Zimbabwean prison service, where 74 men and 2 women are b

What sort of divine power did Robert Frost listen to?