When a pope issues a document “motu proprio,” it means he does so by his own motivation, and it can mean a significant change to church law.
Explainer
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
Five ways you can help Dreamers affected by the end of DACA
From calling legislators to organizing parish activities, you can mobilize on behalf of vulnerable undocumented youths.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Who is St. Peter Claver, ‘apostle to the slaves’?
Sept. 9 is the traditional feast day for St. Peter Claver, often recognized as the patron saint of Catholic ministry to African-Americans in the United States.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Five reasons Pope Francis embraces the Vatican II liturgy
With his speech last week, Pope Francis has definitively and unequivocally put his weight behind a liturgical movement.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: What the “new” Vatican rules on gluten-free hosts mean
Odds are, if your parish provides a “gluten-free” host, it is actually just using a low-gluten host.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
A history of the friction between the Girl Scouts and the Catholic Church
Despite recent criticism, the Girl Scouts boasts of its relationship with the Catholic Church on its website.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Why does the Catholic Church require most of its priests to be celibate, and is this going to change?
Are there married priests already in the Catholic Church? Can we expect a change?
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: Why Pope Francis’ comments on women’s ordination are both business as usual and a big deal
Why Pope Francis’ comments are both business as usual and something worth talking about.
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
Your taxes and abortion: what is the Hyde Amendment and why does it matter?
The debate over the amendment continues to divide Democrats.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Novice? Regent? Scholastic? A guide to Jesuit formation (and lingo)
A number of people have asked me about Jesuit formation, particularly the nomenclature, and the way that Jesuits refer to one another at various stages. So here goes.