The Middle Ages are popularly perceived as a period of intellectual and cultural stagnation This perspective is reinforced by the common description of this era as the Dark Ages or the fact that the word medieval is frequently used as a pejorative in our modern vocabulary These stereotypes many o
In 1940 the Carnegie Foundation commissioned a study to assess the state of race relations in America segregation and white supremacy in the South The Foundation chose a Swedish sociologist named Gunnar Myrdal to lead the project They selected a non-American scholar because they wanted an outsid
The Golden Globes used to be the most relaxed of the awards ceremonies. For many years the lesser-known stepcousin of the Oscars, the Emmys and the Tonys, the ceremony wore its raffish air with the pride of a starlet wearing a couture gown. A recent issue of Entertainment Weekly featured Helen Mirre
Love of one rsquo s enemies is among Jesus rsquo most distinctive characteristic and difficult teachings Most of us have a hard enough time loving our family and friends or even loving ourselves But to do good to those who hate us bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us see
As Senator Barack Obama explores a presidential bid, media headlines across the country ask, Is America ready for an African-American president? Between 50 percent and 62 percent of Americans polled answer yes, that race is no longer a barrier in the United States. But that this is considered a news
Eldest Son of FranceFrance has been a fertile seedbed for some of the most popular Catholic saints: Joan of Arc, Thérèse of Lisieux, Vincent de Paul, Bernadette Soubirous. Lately, though, the eldest daughter of the church has been notable more for the tepidity of its Catholic observance, with Mass
U.S. Urged to Follow Church Example on CubaThe U.S. government should emulate the Catholic Church and look for a dramatic way to improve relations with Cuba, said a U.S. lawmaker after returning from a fact-finding trip to the Caribbean island. Representative James McGovern, Democrat of Massachusett