The Triumph of the Cross
The news these days is grim. Injustices that cry to heaven abound, while people feel ever more frustrated at their extremely limited ability to do anything about them. Our actions to combat injustices seem futile as the carnage goes on. We are tempted to ask, “Where is our God?”In the mi
Building Change
A member of the parish of St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan, whom I will call Francine, lives modestly on Social Security, her monthly pension of $200 and the small salary she receives as a part-time receptionist for another church. Francine has lived comfortably in a studio apartment in Manha
Presiding at the Liturgy of the Word: The second in the Lent-Easter series on ‘Good Liturgy’
There is a saying, “Well begun is half done.” Liturgical celebrations are among the places where that saying is especially true. What follows is one presider’s and teacher’s reflection on the first half of the liturgy of the Mass, from before the entrance procession to the en
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
You have to hand it to Mel Gibson. Whether his decision to screen The Passion of the Christ in advance for only a hand-picked cadre of sympathetic reviewers (mostly evangelical Protestants, conservative Catholics and sympathetic rabbis) was motivated by fear, money or faith, it was an excellent mark
Letters
Letters
Alternatives to Abortion
Your editorial The Abortion Debate Today (2/16) offered some excellent insights. However, we suggest that there is an additional and very relevant consequence of a consistent ethic of life: Pro-life faith communities must be prepared to offer expectant mothers realistic and effective alternatives to abortion. This may take various forms, like financial assistance,…
Editorials
Immigration Reform and the Bush Proposal
"Our immigration system is broken and…in need of reform.” So said Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, Fla., chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Migration in a statement in early January—soon after President Bush issued his proposal on Jan. 7 about this controversial issu
Books
Beneficial Networking
With another presidential election looming on the horizon voter turnout will be a major public issue Political participation however is just one measure of civic engagement and social capital Other measures ranging from volunteering and religious leadership to civic leadership and trust betwee
The Fans Speak
No musician this side of Bob Dylan has been mythologized more than Bruce Springsteen Depending on who you talk to he is a modern-day Woody Guthrie a spiritual descendant of John Steinbeck or a would-be intellectual who reads William Carlos Williams on the tour bus The trick for those who consid
On a San Francisco Stage
This engaging and lively historical study weaves personal stories diplomatic correspondence and other accounts to depict the principal forces that shaped the founding of the United Nations While the author focuses on a conference held in San Francisco from April to July 1945 he effectively outlin
The Word
What Do You Make of It?
Those of us who were raised on any kind of catechism whether the pre-Vatican II Baltimore Catechism the Dutch catechism that was popular during the 1960 rsquo s and 70 rsquo s or today rsquo s Catechism of the Catholic Church were introduced to a list of characteristics or ldquo attributes rdquo
Columns
A Day of Reckoning
How wonderful it is to have someone beg forgiveness. A dear friend of mine is a recovering alcoholic working the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. After a searching and fearless moral inventory (Step 4), he came to me, and others, to make amends (Step 9). This is where the repentant alcoholic
News
Signs of the Times
Dioceses Release Figures on Sexual Abuse Although not required to do so by the Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Catholic bishops across the country are releasing statistics about sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy in their dioceses. The Associated Press re
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts