John Carr’s vocation was as a layman working to help the church share, apply and act on the principles of Catholic social teaching. Now retired, he looks back on his 50 years of service and shares lessons learned.
John Carr
John Carr retired on January 1, 2026, from the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University which he founded in 2013. He previously served as Director of the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development at the UnitedStates Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for more than 20 years. He also was a Washington Correspondent for America, Chair of the Board of Bread for the World, and a Residential Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Trump, Musk and Vance target the most vulnerable and attack Catholic ministries—and it’s working
The Trump administration’s recent attacks on the resources and structures that serve the poor and on the religious institutions that serve the most vulnerable are unprecedented in their scale, pace and human impact.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
What can bring together pro-life Republicans and progressive Democrats? Expanding the child tax credit.
The expanded child tax credit kept millions of children out of poverty last year, but it expired amid partisan bickering. Making it permanent would be pro-family, pro-child, pro-life and anti-poverty.
Posted inFaith and Reason, Politics & Society
I helped write the bishops’ first document on Catholics and voting. Here’s why I’m voting Biden, not Trump.
John Carr explains how, applying the principles of “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” he decided to vote for Biden and against Trump in the 2020 election.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Our response to the coronavirus pandemic reveals who we truly are
Catholic social teaching offers us principles for reflection, criteria for judgment, guidelines for action which can guide our individual, institutional and national choices.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Eight lessons to help us move forward from the sex abuse crisis.
What I’ve learned from more than 50 years in service of the church.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
Senators: Did you come to Washington to take health care from the sick and food from the hungry?
I hope and believe their answer is no. However, the health and budget proposals before Congress will do just that.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Washington Front
The role of Catholics in the time of Trump
This is the most improbable election since an elderly Jesuit from Argentina was elected pope.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Washington Front
Does your Catholic faith shape your politics, or is it the other way around?
We need more faithful Catholics running for office and more outreach to Catholic voters.
Posted inIn All Things
What we learned (and didn’t learn) in last night’s debate
We did not hear much if anything about crucial questions for Catholic voters.