Jesuit School Spotlight
The Great Ignatian Challenge turns a Thanksgiving food drive into a (friendly) Jesuit competition
Jim Rowen discusses the genesis of the Great Ignatian Challenge, a yearly competition among Jesuit high schools to see which institution can bring in the most donations for local charities.
Of Many Things
Our founding fathers warned us about QAnon
This is a 21st-century problem, but we were first warned about it in the 18th century. Our founding fathers called what we are experiencing today factionalism.
Your Take
Your Take: Has polarization poisoned the two-party system?
Readers respond to the November issue’s cover story, “A Pro-life Democrat, a Divided Nation: Lessons From 16 Years in Congress,” by former U.S. Representative Daniel Lipinski.
Editorials
Facebook is threatening the common good
Facebook’s business model, built on monetizing human attention while outsourcing human judgment to algorithms, is a uniquely comprehensive and dangerous abdication of responsibility.
Short Take
Lies can cost lives. Our deceitful and dishonest political culture needs to change.
Our elected officials are failing us, elevating artful pandering and dishonesty over real solutions, writes Marty Meehan in an essay adapted from his speech to a Vatican conference on the media.
Dispatches
‘Nobody flees from love’: Brazil’s alternative prisons offer a model of restorative justice
Criminals “are not dangerous people. They are only people who are not sufficiently loved.”
We contacted every diocese in the U.S. about their synod plans. Here’s what we found.
A team of America Media reporters contacted all 196 “particular churches” in the United States and was able to confirm the appointment of 62 local synod coordinators.
Report: Many women serve as ‘de facto deacons.’ Does the church recognize their gifts?
Even though women make up more than half of U.S. Catholics and 80 percent of lay ecclesial ministers, a new report found that Catholic women still struggle to have their contributions recognized.
El Salvador’s death squads have new targets but continue their bloody work
El Salvador’s contemporary death squads do not engage in political liquidation. Their targets have largely been criminal suspects or innocent bystanders caught up in the violence.
Features
Meet the Millennial Nuns
In a generation known to shun commitments, these women are embracing lifelong vows.
Latin Mass, women priests, celibacy? Climate change will make all the church’s arguments pointless
Nothing will change the church more profoundly than the color green ceasing to be ordinary.
Faith and Reason
A stolen election, an insurrection, a big lie: Can Catholics unify a country engaged in an uncivil war?
If we are to differ intelligently and temperately, we must first share a great deal in common. Today, though, claims and counter-claims are made as if they were vindicated by the mere vehemence of their assertion.
Faith in Focus
The best holiday tradition you’ve never heard of: Venezuelans roller skating to Christmas Mass at sunrise
One of the best parts of Christmas is hearing about how other people celebrate it. And in Venezuela, they have all-night roller skating, which ends with everyone skating to Mass at dawn.
How the Catholic Worker Movement inspired one couple to open their doors to people with AIDS
They were intent on responding with mercy to a crisis that at the time showed no signs of slowing.
Books
Review: Why we get trapped in conflict, in our families and our politics
Amanda Ripley’s new book offers powerful advice on how to step outside the traps we all fall into when navigating situations of conflict.
Review: The racism in Western theological education
In his analysis of Western theological education, Willie James Jennings argues for an institution that does not replicate structures of exclusion or division, but rather reflects the image of the body of Christ.
Review: Sally Rooney writes for millennials in a post-Catholic world
Sally Rooney writes for an audience that lacks faith in an institutional church, yet yearns for something to believe in. She writes for me and my friends.
Review: Jonathan Franzen revisits God, sin and the suburbs in his new novel, ‘Crossroads’
From a vision in a chapel to a man washing his enemy’s feet, ‘Crossroads’ shows snapshots of religion in everyday life.
Television
‘The Sopranos’ is making a comeback. Two of its themes never stopped being relevant: death and salvation.
‘The Sopranos’ is ultimately about the day when Tony Soprano will not wake up.
Poetry
Advent Dawns at the Sacred Cafe
he opened up the window for Dec 24 even though it was like Dec 3
Transfiguration
Jesus, deeply silent, watched the flames
The Word
The loving dynamics in the Holy Family
We are reminded to interact with people beyond our household; different experiences and perspectives enrich our lives and increase our wisdom.
How can we support women struggling with conception and pregnancy?
As we near the end of Advent, the Gospel can inspire us to respond when we are called in new, challenging directions.
We bring joy to the world by living out God’s plan for us
We should find joy in God’s presence in our lives, looking for ways to foster joy in the world as we live out our faith.
We can’t only pray for justice. We must also work to promote it.
During Advent we should be intentional in trying to improve, to grow mentally and spiritually and to help to create a just society.
Last Take
The supply chain crisis could save Christmas
The supply chain crisis may mean emptier shelves and later deliveries this Christmas season. So why not use the opportunity to buy fewer and simpler gifts?
Faith
The best holiday tradition you’ve never heard of: Venezuelans roller skating to Christmas Mass at sunrise
One of the best parts of Christmas is hearing about how other people celebrate it. And in Venezuela, they have all-night roller skating, which ends with everyone skating to Mass at dawn.
The supply chain crisis could save Christmas
The supply chain crisis may mean emptier shelves and later deliveries this Christmas season. So why not use the opportunity to buy fewer and simpler gifts?
The loving dynamics in the Holy Family
We are reminded to interact with people beyond our household; different experiences and perspectives enrich our lives and increase our wisdom.
How can we support women struggling with conception and pregnancy?
As we near the end of Advent, the Gospel can inspire us to respond when we are called in new, challenging directions.
We bring joy to the world by living out God’s plan for us
We should find joy in God’s presence in our lives, looking for ways to foster joy in the world as we live out our faith.
We can’t only pray for justice. We must also work to promote it.
During Advent we should be intentional in trying to improve, to grow mentally and spiritually and to help to create a just society.
A stolen election, an insurrection, a big lie: Can Catholics unify a country engaged in an uncivil war?
If we are to differ intelligently and temperately, we must first share a great deal in common. Today, though, claims and counter-claims are made as if they were vindicated by the mere vehemence of their assertion.
Meet the Millennial Nuns
In a generation known to shun commitments, these women are embracing lifelong vows.
The Great Ignatian Challenge turns a Thanksgiving food drive into a (friendly) Jesuit competition
Jim Rowen discusses the genesis of the Great Ignatian Challenge, a yearly competition among Jesuit high schools to see which institution can bring in the most donations for local charities.
How the Catholic Worker Movement inspired one couple to open their doors to people with AIDS
They were intent on responding with mercy to a crisis that at the time showed no signs of slowing.
We contacted every diocese in the U.S. about their synod plans. Here’s what we found.
A team of America Media reporters contacted all 196 “particular churches” in the United States and was able to confirm the appointment of 62 local synod coordinators.
Report: Many women serve as ‘de facto deacons.’ Does the church recognize their gifts?
Even though women make up more than half of U.S. Catholics and 80 percent of lay ecclesial ministers, a new report found that Catholic women still struggle to have their contributions recognized.
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts