Of Many Things
Why do we stay in the church?
In the end, despite my anger, my sorrow, my sinfulness and the sins of others, I stay because I do care.
Letters
The Letters
“Until the power structure of the church changes, nothing else will. Let us see what they come up with at the November meeting.”
Your Take
Do school vouchers serve the common good?
“Tax credits for middle- and low-income parents who choose private schools are fine. But taking away resources from the already sinfully underfunded public school to benefit private schools is wrong on every level.”
Editorials
The Editors: ‘gay panic’ is no justification for violence
The federal bill would also require the U.S. attorney general to produce an annual report on prosecutions in federal court for crimes committed against L.G.B.T. people “that were motivated by the victim’s gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.”
The consequences of selling arms to Saudi Arabia
The United States has no immediate security interests in the military campaign, led by the Saudis and backed by the Yemeni government, against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Pope Francis must lead on the sexual abuse crisis
To achieve true reform, Pope Francis must give this crisis his full focus and lead the church in caring for those who are hurting the most.
Short Take
Don’t blame the sex abuse crisis on queer Catholics
Using an abuse and accountability scandal to scapegoat Catholic queerness is not O.K.
Dispatches
CARA study indicates decline in abuse reports. Is the worst behind us?
The most common decade of birth for alleged abusers was the 1930s, and the most common decade of ordination was the 1960s. This profile has not changed since the sexual abuse crisis made headlines in 2002.
Trial for the murder of Honduran activist Berta Cáceres set to begin despite mishandling of evidence
Honduran authorities have put the trial for the murder of an environmental and indigenous rights activist at risk by refusing to analyze and share key evidence.
Italy: Catholic leaders reject politics, offer care for migrants
Italy’s Catholic bishops will care for 100 migrants from Eritrea, ending a stalemate over where the asylum-seekers would go.
Viganò’s accusations: What we know and what questions they raise
Archbishop Viganò’s explosive letter raises questions about what Pope Francis knew when, but also about Benedict’s sanctions of McCarrick.
Colombian farmers seek to plant peace in former coca fields
In the rural community of Las Palmas, a group of former coca farmers are replacing coca production with legitimate crops in the hope of promoting peace.
Features
What can nuns and ‘nones’ learn from one another?
The Nuns and Nones project seeks to bring these two groups together in order to explore new forms of community life, help millennials see models for sustainable activism and create an intergenerational network of connections.
A clergy sex abuse survivor’s story and its lessons for restoring faith
Danny was in eighth grade when he was abused by a priest. His life was never the same again.
Faith and Reason
The model of a Catholic teacher: Cardinal Avery Dulles
Avery Dulles’ thousands of students remember him for the clarity of what he taught and wrote as a theologian and teacher. But he was more than that…
Faith in Focus
What can I say to my kids when they ask why we keep faith in this church?
I have found myself for the first time truly afraid of what it means to ask and to allow my children to be part of the church.
Ideas
The rise and fall of the socially conscious sitcom, from “All in the Family” to “Roseanne”
Fifty years ago, U.S. television began to reflect the political debates going on in our homes. But genuine differences may be to hot to handle in the Age of Trump.
The humiliation (and humility) of Hannah Gadsby
With her appeal to emotion, Gadsby reminds audiences to see the vulnerable, resilient human being behind the humiliated stand-up comic.
John Mulaney: the Jesuit grad whose comedy is crossing divides
John Mulaney freely admits that he needs to be liked by everyone.
Books
Tara Isabella Burton’s new novel is a vivid account of how sin slowly creeps in
Review of ‘Social Creature,’ by Tara Isabella Burton
Review: Ronan Farrow mourns diplomacy’s end
Facing the reality of a defunded and sorely understaffed State Department and with the growing presence of active and retired military personnel in policy-making processes in an increasingly complicated global community, this book raises an important question: What hope is there for the future of peace?
Review: The Catholic contribution to Gothic literature
A bold, indispensable and revisionary text for the benefit of readers and critics of major and dominant motifs in the unfolding history of American fiction.
The director who defined classic Hollywood
Censors “complained that they knew what Lubitsch was saying, but they couldn’t figure out how he was saying it.”
Poetry
Burning Mount Athos
One by one, I rip the pages and let the heat curl them
The Word
Why do we follow Jesus?
Those who wait on the least will be the ones in whom God will find a reflection of the Son.
Do your actions help or harm the work of the Spirit?
The behaviors of Christians could hinder the Spirit’s work.
Last Take
Three lessons I learned from John McCain
Never sacrifice your dignity or integrity for short-term gain.
Faith
Why do we follow Jesus?
Those who wait on the least will be the ones in whom God will find a reflection of the Son.
Do school vouchers serve the common good?
“Tax credits for middle- and low-income parents who choose private schools are fine. But taking away resources from the already sinfully underfunded public school to benefit private schools is wrong on every level.”
Do your actions help or harm the work of the Spirit?
The behaviors of Christians could hinder the Spirit’s work.
CARA study indicates decline in abuse reports. Is the worst behind us?
The most common decade of birth for alleged abusers was the 1930s, and the most common decade of ordination was the 1960s. This profile has not changed since the sexual abuse crisis made headlines in 2002.
Why do we stay in the church?
In the end, despite my anger, my sorrow, my sinfulness and the sins of others, I stay because I do care.
What can nuns and ‘nones’ learn from one another?
The Nuns and Nones project seeks to bring these two groups together in order to explore new forms of community life, help millennials see models for sustainable activism and create an intergenerational network of connections.
A clergy sex abuse survivor’s story and its lessons for restoring faith
Danny was in eighth grade when he was abused by a priest. His life was never the same again.
Pope Francis must lead on the sexual abuse crisis
To achieve true reform, Pope Francis must give this crisis his full focus and lead the church in caring for those who are hurting the most.
Italy: Catholic leaders reject politics, offer care for migrants
Italy’s Catholic bishops will care for 100 migrants from Eritrea, ending a stalemate over where the asylum-seekers would go.
Viganò’s accusations: What we know and what questions they raise
Archbishop Viganò’s explosive letter raises questions about what Pope Francis knew when, but also about Benedict’s sanctions of McCarrick.
The model of a Catholic teacher: Cardinal Avery Dulles
Avery Dulles’ thousands of students remember him for the clarity of what he taught and wrote as a theologian and teacher. But he was more than that…
Don’t blame the sex abuse crisis on queer Catholics
Using an abuse and accountability scandal to scapegoat Catholic queerness is not O.K.
What can I say to my kids when they ask why we keep faith in this church?
I have found myself for the first time truly afraid of what it means to ask and to allow my children to be part of the church.
Magazine
The Letters
“Until the power structure of the church changes, nothing else will. Let us see what they come up with at the November meeting.”
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts