In All Things

In Britain we usually begrudge American superiority and prefer not to admit it But a grand exception has been made for Barack Obama Even right-wing media here have heaped praise on the Democratic nominee s oratory presence and power to uplift with his vision of hope and unity This week s e

As the general election takes shape the leading issues have emerged the economy the Iraq War ethics reform global warming A news story may temporarily thrust a new item onto the list but in poll after poll these are the issues that people care about In fact it is an old bit of wisdom that

Why should a Catholic priest avoid preaching about political issues–Republican Democrat or otherwise–in a homily See what you think about one answer at Beliefnet Hint It s got something to do with whose word he s preaching or rather whose Word James Martin SJ

Here s a smart piece by two of the smartest Catholic scholars in this country David O Brien the church historian at Holy Cross College in Worcester Mass and Lisa Sowle Cahill the moral theology professor at Boston College writing on the policy of denying Communion to certain politicians

John McCain has had a four months long head start on unifying the Republican Party around his candidacy but signs remain that the GOP is fractured or unenthusiastic about his bid for the White House Barack Obama has had less than a week to unify the Democrats and the early signs are that the wo

Here at the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America this weekend the theme has been Generations For me it has been an exhilarating weekend of hearing much theology renewing many friendships and again allowing gratitude for my colleagues and our shared vocation to make

In November 2006 in our Of Many Things column I wrote a short column on the remarkable success of Uwem Akpan a Nigerian Jesuit and astonishingly gifted writer who had been included in The New Yorker s Debut Fiction issue in the summer of 2005 Part of my delight in Uwem s success was

Yesterday the mastermind of the 9 11 terrorist attacks on the United States Khalid Sheik Mohammed told a military court in Guantanamo Bay that he wanted to be executed Yes this is what I wish I have looking to be a martyr from long time I will God willing have this by you I understand ve

Between now and November the single most important decision that Barack Obama will make is his vice-presidential pick The decision itself is of little consequence Although recent vice presidents have played prominent roles and Dick Cheney has been enormously influential usually vice presidents

Readers of the work of literary critic and novelist James Wood will know that he is God-haunted The title of his first novel was after all The Book against God Wood s preoccupation with God specifically the problem of evil is addressed head-on this week s New Yorker in which he cons