The history of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” is a colorful one—though shorter than you think.
Short Take
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
The outpouring of support for Ukraine is a great thing. Can we show the same compassion for victims of other global crises?
Human suffering crosses all ethnic, racial and political borders. Efforts to alleviate it must do the same.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
6 ways a plant-based diet can help us meet Pope Francis’ ‘Laudato Si’’ challenge
Pope Francis has called for Catholics to support principles of “total sustainability.” A meat industry that warms the planet, ravages forests and fouls our water is incompatible with those principles.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
The church in Eastern Europe has a chance to improve its record on refugees
Two million people have already fled Ukraine, many to European nations that resisted accepting refugees from the Middle East. Will this new crisis force a reckoning on the treatment of all displaced persons?
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Catholic philosopher Alice von Hildebrand didn’t need to proselytize to bring her students to God
Alice von Hildebrand was one of the heroes of faith in our time. We should cherish her memory.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
The defense industry will profit from war in Ukraine—with your money
When war erupts, the weapons industry benefits from the fears that motivate politicians to budget more money for the military—and investors to sink more capital into armaments.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Not many Catholics care about the synod. But I’m not ready to give up on it yet.
Yes, the synod on synodality is off to a sluggish start, especially in the United States. But if we are brutally honest about what is broken in the church, we can still have a successful dialogue.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
We have a moral duty to protect Ukrainian civilians—but that doesn’t mean going to war with Russia
Does the “responsibility to protect” doctrine call for Western action in Ukraine? Perhaps not through military intervention, but certainly in efforts toward recovery, reconstruction and reconciliation.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
The war in Ukraine is exposing America’s crisis of democracy
The United States should not abandon a foreign policy that promotes free self-determination around the globe. But people who have lost faith in democracy at home may be on to something.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
I considered myself a pacifist. Then Russia invaded Ukraine, and I had some questions.
How do you reconcile Jesus’ message of peace with the bloodshed of the war in Ukraine? Catholic anti-violence activists weigh in.