The Origins of Amity
Generalizations about races or nations, however prejudiced, usually have some basis in fact. – Peter Mansfield, The Arabs.
The Church’s Bishop, A City’s Pastor
It might surprise many to learn that no bishop has ministered to more persons living with AIDS than Cardinal John O’Connor, who by his own report tended to countless patients at St. Clare’s Hospital. I dare say also that no bishop has directly ministered to more priests and bishops who w
Distributors of Justice: A Case for a Just Wage
In this Jubilee year, the issue of wealth distribution, especially as it relates to the larger macroeconomic issues of international debt and globalization, has received a good deal of attention and analysis. For this we should be thankful. What has not received much attention, however, are the resp
Fighting Against Sweatshop Abuses
When did your anti-sweatshop work begin?We began our labor rights activities in Latin America in the early 1990’s in El Salvador and Honduras. One of our first projects was to help a local human rights organization in Honduras, called the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, to do a surv
The China Trade Debate
The debate over whether the United States should give permanent normal trade relations to China pits human rights concerns against economic ones. While others focus on labor, environmental or military issues, the U.S. bishops oppose special trade privileges for China because of China’s human r
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
The day after Cardinal O’Connor’s death I received a package delivered by U.P.S. It was from Alba House (Society of St. Paul) and contained a copy of their newest publication, The Life and Times of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. The author, Myles P. Murphy, is a New York archdiocesan priest
Letters
Letters
DisengagedWhy confine our concern to killing priests (4/29)? It seems that we could say the same about every person in church ministry. The outdated paradigm threatens the soul of every director of religious education, pastoral assistant and active minister who tries to balance the increasing demand
Editorials
Health Care and the Campaign
Health care is emerging as a major campaign issue, and rightly so, because we are in trouble. The U.S. Census Bureau has found that over 44 million people lack health insurance. It is estimated that by the year 2008, the number of uninsured will have risen to 55 millionalmost a quarter of all non-el
Faith in Focus
A God Who Gets Foolishly Close
Always fall in love with what you’re asked to accept. Take what is given and make it over your way…. The best way is through. Robert Frost
Books
Making Friends
Patrick Tyler The New York Times rsquo s Beijing bureau chief from 1993 to 1997 begins his history of U S relations with China by emphasizing the risk of war between the People rsquo s Republic and Taiwan American presidents have sought to deter such a war and since 1972 have endorsed the idea o
Life on the Line
Suicide is a major mental health problem that touches all our lives The incidence of suicide is frighteningly highthere are few among us who do not know a friend or family member who has either attempted or committed suicide and no one of us is immune from its reach We have much to learn from…
The Word
Jesus’ Last Will and Testament
The first reading captures the meaning of today rsquo s liturgical celebration Matthias not one of the original followers of Jesus is chosen to be a witness to the resurrection From Easter to Pentecost all the readings in effect present different aspects of what it means to be such a witness The
Columns
Guffaws for the Governor: The poor man didn’t recognize the names of shows that entertain the media elites.
Poor George W. Bush. It was bad enough when, during the primary season, a Boston reporter surprised him with a snap quiz about foreign leaders, including some from nations that Rand McNally himself might have had trouble spelling. Bush’s tentative answers inspired snickers in some quarters, al
News
Signs of the Times
Pope Links Fatima Secret To Assassination AttemptPope John Paul II, ordering the publication of the third secret of Fatima, believes part of it was a direct reference to the attempt made on his life in 1981, said the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Cardinal Sodano, the highest-ra
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts