It might be good for the church to live sede vacante for a full year—contemplating an empty seat of power—before electing a new pope.
Francis X. Clooney, S.J.
Francis X. Clooney, S.J., is the Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard University, and a scholar of Hinduism and Hindu-Christian studies. He wrote for America’s In All Things column between 2007 and 2016. His latest book, The Future of Hindu-Christian Studies, has recently been published by Routledge.
Posted inIn All Things
Second Thoughts on Praying Together
Cambridge MA Recently I commented on the case where the Rev Rob Morris a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor apologized for participating in an interfaith memorial service after the Sandy Hook massacre Now the Synod has apologized to him as the February 14 New York Times reports Sometimes we thin
Posted inIn All Things
The Practice of Yoga and the Practice of Lent: I
nbsp Cambridge MA It is Lent once more and as I rsquo ve often done in the past I will take up a theme that I will return to every now and then between now and Easter Since I am once again teaching my course on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali ndash the classic synthesis of yoga theory and pract
Posted inIn All Things
Daring to Pray Together – and Apologizing For It?
Cambridge MA There was an excellent article in the February 7 2013 New York Times by Sharon Otterman on the trouble Rev Rob Morris a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor got himself into by joining in interfaith prayer service attended by President Obama in December right after the December 14 S
Posted inIn All Things
The Interreligious Mary of Colm Tóibín
Cambridge MA I spent a little time this week reading The Testament of Mary by the Irish novelist Colm T ib n It is a meditation in the voice of Mary the Mother of Jesus in her old age as she looks back on her life I needn rsquo t summarize it here since America has already printed a fine
Posted inFaith, In All Things
A Swami who changed the world
Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Narendra Nath Datta, better known as Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863-July 4, 1902). The Swami was one of the original disciples of the Hindu saint and mystic Ramakrishna (1836-1886).
Posted inIn All Things
Simpler than We Think: the Light of Epiphany
Cambridge MA As readers of this blog know my main theme here is or should be interreligious dialogue And while I am not much into current events I do frequently enough write about matters that cross religious boundaries But you will also know if you rsquo ve been reading my entries over the
Posted inIn All Things
Before Christmas: Mary and Elizabeth Show The Way
nbsp Cambridge MA There is hardly a day left before Christmas little time to stop and ponder the wisdom of the 4th Sunday of Advent but today 39 s Gospel is too important to let go by without comment ldquo In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country w
Posted inIn All Things
Patron Saints of Lost Causes
Cambridge MA This is the second of my Advent reflections occasioned by the Sunday readings reflection on the state of my soul and our souls and other things as well See the first here I just finished ndash on CD while driving home from my parish – Jennifer duBois rsquo fine first novel
Posted inIn All Things
The Policeman and the Poor Man: The Kingdom is Near
Cambridge MA I am sure that every reader has by now seen the picture accompanying this blog of the New York policeman kneeling down to give a homeless man poor and cold and barefoot on a winter rsquo s night a warm pair of shoes that he had bought with his own money The story was told with sim