The Advantages of a Catholic University
When the history of American higher education is written, scholars will surely remark on the phenomenal proliferation of Catholic universities since the middle of the 20th century. To some extent, these universities are still finding their way in relation to the church and the secular society in whi
How Do I Know It’s God?
I can hear someone who reads my article “Does God Communicate With Me?” (Am., 12/3/01) asking, perhaps with some pique: “You tell me to pay attention to my experience as the privileged place where God communicates with me. But how do I know it is God who is communicating with me? C
Retro-Catholicism
If you know any young adults in their late teens or early 20’s, or if you have young adult children yourself, you may be shocked by what they consider cool these days. I am not referring to anything scandalous, but rather to their appreciation for retro popular culture. The music of the 1970&r
Education for Globalization
Speaking to the higher education community at Santa Clara University in October 2000, Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., the superior general of the Jesuits, could have been anticipating the tectonic shift that the events of Sept. 11 would cause when he gave a new challenge to all Jesuit colleges and univ
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
Autobiographies of people who have struggled with life’s adversities have long been among my favorite kinds of reading. This is especially true of those with a religious dimension that underscores the author’s reliance on God. One such account I recently re-read was the autobiography of
Letters
Letters
New Directions
Many, many thanks for your honest and forthright consideration of the current horrible scandal. The entire April 1 issue was the best I have seen in 40 years of subscribing. I am sharing it with my friends in our parish, and I expect it to become thoroughly worn out in its labor of love.…
Editorials
Neglected Diseases
The World Health Organization has reported that every year, 14 million people die of treatable infectious diseases. Most of these deaths occur in the developing world, and most have one primary causelack of the drugs needed to cure these illnesses, which are common to the poorest nations. The drugs
Faith in Focus
Learning and Teaching
I walked across the deck of the pool at Flick Park, one of the public pools in Glenview, the embryonic suburb north of Chicago where I spent the first 18 years of my life. Little children splashed their way through the kiddie pool on my right. I was there with some friends headed for the…
Books
Theology cum Fiction
Although she died at age 39 the Catholic writer Flannery O rsquo Connor left a literary legacy that secures her place as a major figure in 20th-century literature In this carefully researched well-written study of her fiction George A Kilcourse departs from the usual realm of literary criticism
Another Way of Seeing
This is the first book I ever reviewed which I have not only read but prayed overand listened to on a CD the book comes with a CD spoken by the actor Martin Sheen Kennedy a gifted even charismatic pastor and longtime chaplain in jails had earlier done specialized training in the practice of s
Mindful Monks
Robert King a retired philosophy and religion professor and academic dean, discovered only late in his academic career the contemplative dimension of Christianity
The Word
A Mystery Almost Too Good to Be True
Though it celebrates the most profound mystery of the Christian faith this feast presents a great challenge to all Christians especially on a Sunday morning in May The traditional formulation of the doctrine ldquo three persons in one God rdquo is puzzling to contemporary people for whom per
Columns
A Fine Little Uproar
The departure of a White House staff member, even one who is said to be a president’s alter-ego, rarely inspires a raft of cultural commentary. But when Karen Hughes, President George W. Bush’s top advisor, announced in late April that she would be returning to her home state of Texas wi
News
Signs of the Times
Cardinal Law Gives Deposition in Civil Suit Against ArchdioceseCardinal Bernard F. Law was interrogated under oath on May 8 by a lawyer representing 86 people who have filed suit against him and the Archdiocese of Boston, alleging that he was negligent in supervising John J. Geoghan when Geoghan was
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts