Through their grief after Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples became more vulnerable in their love for Jesus, which enabled them to recognize his risen, vulnerable presence. These words—grief, vulnerability and recognition—are thus inextricably linked to the Pentecost story and, in particular, to the role the Spirit plays in their lives and our lives in the church.
James F. Keenan, S.J.
James F. Keenan, S.J., a moral theologian, is the Canisius Professor at Boston College.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
LGBT Catholics and ‘disordered’ language: A biblical model for change
“I do not think that the present anxiety about recognizing the ‘gay’ Catholic is unlike the first-century anxiety regarding the Gentiles becoming Christians,” Jesuit moral theologian James F. Keenan writes.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
A brief history of the Catholic Church’s teaching on mercy and sin
A close look at the Catholic moral tradition around sin, mercy and confession shows that it developed from its inception pathways to holiness that were collective, merciful, hospitable, inclusive, exemplary and grace-filled.
Posted inFeatures, Politics & Society
Populism isn’t going anywhere. Elites need to listen to the masses to rebuild our democracy.
Social trust cannot be achieved without working through the long-standing resentments of those populist masses who perceive themselves as the ‘deplorables’ of the elite.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Paul Farmer went to Africa to fight Ebola. He found a people devastated by war and racism.
Paul Farmer’s new book explores his work with others in West Africa. Farmer and his team went there to respond to the longest and largest Ebola epidemic in recorded history.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Amo, Amas, Amat: Remembering Father Reginald Foster, the Vatican’s legendary Latin expert
Reggie Foster taught generations of students in Rome, keeping Latin alive and living a colorful, inspiring life.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: The continued fight to eradicate clergy sex abuse
Nualy Kenny’s new book on clergy sex abuse reminds us there are solutions to this deep crisis that need to be implemented with urgency.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
What Dorothy Day can teach us about prudence and discernment
This interview first appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of In Our Time, the newsletter of the Dorothy Day Guild, edited by Carolyn Zablotny.
Posted inFeatures, Politics & Society
What is Pope Francis’ effect on health care?
Pope Francis advocates for the consistent ethic of life in a throwaway culture. Like Cardinal Bernardin many years ago, he defends the sanctity of life at every stage and in every situation.
Posted inArts & Culture
The arrested development of the American conscience in moral decision making
In the United States we need in humility to allow ourselves to be judged by the truth.