Cambridge MA On June 10 I will celebrate the 30th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood by Cardinal Terence Cooke I won t be getting together with my nine Jesuit classmates everyone is still in active ministry but we are saving the reunion for the 50th I think but I am sure al
In All Things
Obama and America Make History
The contrasting backdrops last night told the story John McCain appeared before a shocking lime green poster speaking to a few hundred supporters in Louisiana unable to find a cadence or turn-of-phrase that might stick in anyone s memory Hillary Clinton spoke to her supporters who unhelpfully
Obama & the First Amendment
Barack Obama s decision to resign from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago had two sides First he was undoubtedly tired of being held responsible for every outrageous or semi-outrageous or provocative or semi-provocative remark made from the pulpit there Second the good people at
Our Good Friend Avery
On Friday May 30 three America editors including Drew Christiansen S J the editor-in-chief traveled to the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University in New York City to present to Avery Cardinal Dulles S J a long-time contributor to the magazine a small token of the editors appreciati
America Wins at the CPA
The Catholic Press Association announced its annual awards this weekend and America did pretty well OK we did very well please excuse this rare display of pride First and foremost America was named the best magazine in its category winning general excellence honors for our three issues dat
Rev. Wright and Fr. Pfleger — and “Public Theology” Now
The controversy over Rev Wright s and Fr Pfleger s remarks teach one overriding lesson not that zealous preaching is bad not that outdated models of dealing with race in America are unhelpfully being invoked not that a sermon can serve as a seismograph for Christian patriotism The lesson i
What Happened in PR?
It is hard to tell what happened in Puerto Rico yesterday On the one hand the results were entirely predictable Hillary Clinton not only enjoys nearly universal name recognition but she represents New York in the U S Senate The large number of Puerto Rican constituents in her jurisdiction mean
Farewell! Farewell!
Well farewell for a week that is This week I ll be embarking on a blog tour to talk about the saints and discuss my book My Life with the Saints What s a blog tour That s what I asked when my publisher first suggested it Essentially you visit or write for a series of bl
Two New Raves
Although the official America review will not be out for a few weeks I wanted to without treading upon the reviewer s field recommend Ron Hansen s new book Exiles It s a masterfully told novel or fiction based on fact that toggles between the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins
Never – or Possibly – Too Old to Learn
So I m thinking of applying to a university for my Master s degree Part of me is excited about the opportunity Part of me feels a little ridiculous I have children who are old enough to think about getting a Master s degree I worry that my time for being a student has long passed It will
