How we partake in the mystery of Christ—kneeling, receiving the host in our hands, or on our tongue—is secondary to the experience of humility and honor in receiving the Eucharist.
Explainer
Posted inArts & Culture, Explainer
How the Osage Nation became Catholic: The hard truths in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” explores a moment in American history not often read in history books—and not always reckoned with by our churches and country.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Pope Francis wants the synod in every parish. Here’s how to bring it to yours.
It will not be enough to read any document that comes from the synod; Catholics must experience the synod, must do synod. The best place to do this is in your parish.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: Mongolia only has 1,400 Catholics. Pope Francis is going there anyway.
Pope Francis will visit Mongolia’s 1,400 Catholics from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. What do they expect from the pope’s visit?
Posted inExplainer, Faith
10 years after Pope Francis said ‘Who am I to judge?,’ what has changed for LGBT Catholics?
Ten years ago on the flight back from his first World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis spoke these five simple words that reverberated around the world: “Who am I to judge?”
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: MAGIS, the Jesuits’ World Youth Day celebration
The Jesuits will begin their pre-World Youth Day program this Saturday with the start of MAGIS 2023, which will bring about 2,000 young people from 82 countries connected with the Society of Jesus to Lisbon.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Same-sex blessing, the ‘kissing book’ and abuse: Why Pope Francis’ new head of doctrine is already causing controversy
Archbishop Fernández’s appointment has been met with criticisms focusing on a book he wrote about kissing, his handling of sexual abuse and comments he made expressing an openness to blessing gay and lesbian couples.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
The most important takeaway from the synod (so far) is something you’ve never heard of
News reports, to the chagrin of the synod office, have focused primarily on the questions of the ordination of married men and women deacons—questions on which it invites discussion but makes no recommendations.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Two U.S. bishops were recently subject to Vatican visitations. What do these interventions mean?
Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tenn., and Bishop Joseph Strickland, of Tyler, Tex., have both been subject to apostolic visitations recently. Here’s what we do (and don’t) know about the Vatican interventions.
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
The controversial history of the U.S. bishops’ Catholic health care guidelines
With rapid advances in medicine and sweeping changes in the U.S. health care landscape, some are suggesting that the U.S. bishops’ Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services needs a complete overhaul.