What If the Pope Became Disabled?
In the late 1980’s, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan of Atlanta suffered a seriously debilitating stroke, so severe that he was not able to communicate with anyone around him. Archdiocesan officials consulted the then recently revised Code of Canon Law and followed its directions for what to do
I Am the Vine: A celebration of Masses in Rome, India and the Amazon
On the first Sunday of the new millennium, I went to my parents’ usual church, Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester, Mass. On the second Sunday I knelt, freezing, below the great dome of the Pantheon in Rome and listened to a Latin Mass sung in purest Gregorian chant. On the third, I sat…
Responding to the ‘Gay Agenda’: Three reasons why dialogue might be an appropriate response
How should the Catholic Church in the United States respond to what some have labeled the gay agenda? One way would be simply to restate what has been declared repeatedly. This approach, however, may not meet the challenge. The so-called gay agenda has been in the making roughly since 1969, when the
The Faces Behind Us: An aging population and diminishing energy reserves will soon require the rationing of scarce resourcesthe problem of saying no.
Driving to the university the other morning during rush hour, I was delayed briefly by the motorist ahead of me, who paused to let traffic enter from a side streeta courteous, helpful gesture, certainly. Moments later, in the elevator on the way up to my office, I was delayed once againthis time by
Addressing Youth Crime: An Interview With Eugene F. Rivers
Who are the young people most at risk-these days for crime? They tend to be the black and brown fatherless youth who inhabit our inner cities, and who lack mentors, ministers and monitors. The absence of responsible authoritative adults in their lives, in addition to poverty and the lack of educatio
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
One of the interests that I share with my father is a taste for what the British used to call ripping good yarns, that is, stories of high adventure. My father and I are far from alone in our interest. A glance at recent best-seller lists will reveal a surprising number of adventure tales nestled…
Letters
Letters
Bunnies RuleMore bunnies, please, out of James Martin’s hat (Of Many Things, 8/26)! Peter Cottontail with Karl Rahner and Father Martin’s nephew made me laugh today – again!Mary Anne ZakSuffield, Conn. Manifesting CommunityThomas J. McCarthy’s column (7/29) struck a very famil
Editorials
For the City, Peace
Sometimes the obstacles to peace appear so great and so many that to face them seems humanly impossible. But what seemed unthinkable even a few short years ago is now a reality or at least a matter of open discussion. Pope John Paul II offered that reflection on September 18 as he received a new…
Books
Over Newman’s Dead Body
Stanley Jaki possesses impressive credentials for discussing the challenges Newman faced in his day and that he poses to our own Jaki holds doctorates in theology and physics has published extensively on the history of philosophy and science and is laden with honors Gifford Lectures Templeton P
Mysterious Presence
This book honors a 12-year-old martyr by the name of FoyFaith in Englishin the southwest of France during the last of the Roman persecutions in A D 303 Five centuries later in what is called a Furtive Translation or pious robbery her remains were carried off from Agen in the Garonne to the to
Landmarks and Resting Places
The author of this book takes a simple idea and makes the best of it The idea is to use the tried and true metaphor of the life of faith as a journey on which difficulties chronically deter pilgrims who return to the starting gate over and over McGrath understands well this frustration because he
The Word
Marriages Are Made in Heaven
Marriage is increasingly described as a fragile institution in our society Divorce rates hover around 40 per cent with the divorce rate among Catholics at roughly 20 percent The readings for this Sunday provide a biblical countervision The Gospel begins with the Pharisees testing Jesus by asking
Columns
A Utopian Dream: ‘At the earliest possible date, my administration will deploy missile defenses’ — George W. Bush
George Lucas’s “Star Wars” has spawned a multi-billion dollar industry, including sequels, prequels and a limitless array of paraphernalia. It’s a juggernaut that shows no sign of abating. Few ideas have captured the popular imagination quite the way it has. National missile
News
Signs of the Times
Theologians Urge National Procedure for MandatumA committee of the Catholic Theological Society of America has urged national review and appeal procedures if a U.S. bishop wants to withhold or withdraw a theologian’s mandatum. In a 61-page report the committee expressed strong continuing reser
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