Feminism at Fifty: A Catholic woman looks back at ‘The Feminine Mystique’
In 1963, Betty Friedan’s book, The Feminine Mystique, launched second-wave feminism in an astounding way. Millions of copies were sold, and many women since have claimed, “It changed my life.” Opponents were equally aroused, and different interpretations of feminism have remained o
Talking About God: ‘Lumen Fidei,’ a new invitation to faith
Before his election to the papacy, Joseph Ratzinger recalled an anecdote from the deliberations that preceded the Second Vatican Council. When they were first gathering, the bishops clearly saw their mission as continuing the work of the First Vatican Council. The primary task would be, as John XXII
Left Behind: Literacy is today’s civil rights issue.
As a society we acknowledge that a college degree opens doors to higher paying jobs. So it is not surprising that a case before the U.S. Supreme Court concerning a Michigan law that prohibits using racial criteria in admissions for public universities is receiving wide attention. Americans may disag
The Continuing Crisis: A report on the church’s global response to H.I.V./AIDS
Dec. 1—World AIDS Day—marks 32 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported. This year also marks 30 years since three papers published in the journal Science (5/20/83) identified the causative agent of the epidemic: human immunodeficiency virus, now commonly known as H.I.V. For two
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
On World AIDS Day, Matt Malone, S.J., reflects on the United States’ sluggish response to the epidemic, “a mortal social sin, one for which our country has yet to fully atone.”
Letters
State of the Question: Women in the Church: Readers respond to America’s special issue on women (10/28)
All Called to ServeThanks to America for including women in the discussions about the role of women in the church. Our church has to play catch-up on years and decades of neglect. Young Catholic women walk away from the official Catholic Church and use their talents and gifts to serve their families
Editorials
Healing Communities
We tend to provide only self-defeating half-measures to care for people with mental illness.
Faith in Focus
A Quiet Man: My father’s homecoming
My father, a Tipperary man, was proud of his Irish ancestry, though he was so complaisant of disposition you would be hard put to discern that right away. He was a modest man of modest means and modest ambition. Since his departure from this world, little is said of him in family circles. At times…
Books
Staging Scripture
A short and intriguing book Piero Boitani rsquo s The Gospel According to Shakespeare is written by a major scholar for everybody for scholars for non-scholars for us all It is a fine book and its intriguing quality is that the reader keeps wondering if Boitani can pull it off Can he establis
What Would George Do?
During a much-discussed speech at The National Defense University earlier this year President Obama cataloged the dreadful conditions at Guant namo Bay and then asked ldquo Is that who we are Is that something that our Founders foresaw rdquo The question was obviously rhetorical though as Lo
Aquinas Reconstructed
As is true of all Lisa Sowle Cahill rsquo s writings this latest volume from the distinguished Christian ethicist from Boston College is a significant contribution not only to that discipline but also to theology Here she is less concerned about particular social issues and aims to provide a sust
Film
Scamming for Survival: The reckless life of an AIDS rebel
John Anderson reviews “Dallas Buyers Club,” nominated for best picture in the weekend’s Academy Awards.
Poetry
Naming
My name streams from your mouth—an adagio with indentations anda scent of sacrifice.I see my namewritten ingrass style calligraphy.I want to slide into each strokeand swim with each stroke.I am a dolphin swimming,bobbing up and downalong the Wai’anae coastI am afraid of drowning.The dolp
The Word
The Coming of the King
The Greek word that refers to Jesus rsquo arrival most often translated as ldquo second coming rdquo is parousia The term was adopted by Christians from the common Greek usage and imperial Roman ideology of the day in which a city prepared for and eagerly anticipated the arrival of a major po
Columns
Criminal Injustice
The U.S. justice system is frequently not just, and it is certainly not Christian.
Slavery and the Shock of the Old
In remembering the suffering of history’s victims, we begin to see that the suffering continues.
Current Comment
Current Comment
Global Warning, Desert Experience and An Invitation to Speak Up
Signs Of the Times
Hunger, Thirst and Disease Taunt Survivors as World Responds
“This is no longer the Tacloban that we loved. Everything is gone.”
Jesuit ‘Teach In for Justice’ Hits Capitol Hill
The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice drew about 1,100 participants on Nov. 16.
News Briefs
On Nov. 13, the U.S. State Department designated Nigeria’s Boko Haram network a terror organization, bowing to months of pressure to act against the radical Islamist group which has killed hundreds of people, especially among Nigeria’s Christian communities. • Working people struggl
Fast for Immigration Reform Launched
Photos of happy families were posted inside the Fast 4 Families Community Tent at the National Mall in Washington. Beside the smiling faces, however, were Post-it notes that read “I pray that families stay together” and “God, please don’t take my mom away.” National rel
Dolan: Go Global on Religious Freedom Fight
Cardinal Timothy Dolan spoke in his final address as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts