Of Many Things
The 2019 America Profile
In what other country could the son of a saloonkeeper, one of 12 children in a two-bedroom house, rise to become the speaker of the national assembly? That is John Boehner’s story.
Your Take
When is the right time to decorate for Christmas?
At the risk of wading into one of our nation’s and church’s most contentious questions, America asked our readers when they think is the right time to decorate for Christmas.
Editorials
Trump’s attacks on public servants undermine the Constitution—and his own office.
President Trump has raised the stakes in the impeachment drama by questioning the integrity and motives of civil servants who have chosen to testify at the congressional hearings.
World AIDS Day and the premiere of ‘Plague’
“Plague: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church,” an ambitious podcast created and hosted by America’s national correspondent, Michael J. O’Loughlin, premiers Dec. 1.
Short Take
What a 19th-century Catholic addict and poet can tell us about the modern-day opioid crisis
The current opioid crisis has strong parallels to drug addiction in Victorian England, writes Nathan Beacom, and the struggles of the Catholic poet Francis Thompson.
Dispatches
Seniors squeeze out kids in federal budget
Federal spending on children fell to 1.9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2018.
A priest is killed as ISIS revives in Syria, and deadly protests continue in Iraq
Armed groups affiliated with ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, celebrating erroneously in a statement the killing of “two priests.”
Chile is reeling from protests. Where is the Catholic Church?
The Chilean bishops’ have urged political leaders to step up to their responsibility to preserve the common good and deplored acts of anarchy and looting, most recently directed against church sites themselves. But is anyone listening to them?
Meet Archbishop José Gomez, the first Latino president of the U.S. bishops
On Nov. 12, the U.S. bishops elected Archbishop Gomez to be the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the first ballot.
Features
John Boehner has no regrets | The America Profile
The day after introducing Pope Francis’ address to Congress in 2015, John Boehner stepped down as House speaker. America editor Matt Malone, S.J., talks to Mr. Boehner about the state of U.S. politics, then and now.
The Legacy of ‘La Virgen del Tepeyac,’ a play about Our Lady of Guadalupe
The story of “La Virgen del Tepeyac” is about the birth of a people.
Faith in Focus
This Advent season, listen to your hometown prophets
Prophets are those people who through gentleness or annoyance (or some combination of the two) have called us to who we really are and pointed to where we were supposed to go.
Ideas
Meet the monks who brew the only Trappist beer in America
A Trappist monastery in Massachusetts revives a centuries-old brewing tradition.
Books
Review: Reconstructing a lost youth
‘Body Leaping Backward’ is a melancholy, atmospheric memoir that reads as a sort of urgent confession.
Review: How can Christians care for creation?
In his new book, Christopher Steck recommends a relationship of kinship to animals rather than one of dominion or stewardship.
Review: The last words from John L’Heureux
A new collection of stories from the late John L’Heureux shows his literary dexterity.
Martha Nussbaum respects the Cynic-Stoic tradition—but she’s ready to correct it
In her brilliant new book, Martha Nussbaum argues for a thrilling vision: the whole biosphere conceived and treated as a “cosmic city,” in which humans carefully do their part to ensure that the capabilities of all creatures can be activated as much as possible.
Theater
Playwright Will Arbery on the restless Catholics of ‘Heroes of the Fourth Turning’
Arbery has written a play based on many years of quietly watching and listening to his fellow Catholics and conservatives.
Poetry
Prayers at 4
I would stand out in the mallows
And cow pastures, arms and eyes
Opened wide, crying, praying:
The Word
Waiting for the Lord on Gaudete Sunday (and always)
Like Isaiah’s community, we can find joy in salvation from the Lord.
Even in uncertainty, God is always there.
Matthew connects Jesus to the Emmanuel prophecy of old.
Last Take
How I learned to love my Christianity
Writer Tara Isabella Burton reflects on finding her Christianity.
Faith
How I learned to love my Christianity
Writer Tara Isabella Burton reflects on finding her Christianity.
Waiting for the Lord on Gaudete Sunday (and always)
Like Isaiah’s community, we can find joy in salvation from the Lord.
This Advent season, listen to your hometown prophets
Prophets are those people who through gentleness or annoyance (or some combination of the two) have called us to who we really are and pointed to where we were supposed to go.
The Legacy of ‘La Virgen del Tepeyac,’ a play about Our Lady of Guadalupe
The story of “La Virgen del Tepeyac” is about the birth of a people.
Even in uncertainty, God is always there.
Matthew connects Jesus to the Emmanuel prophecy of old.
When is the right time to decorate for Christmas?
At the risk of wading into one of our nation’s and church’s most contentious questions, America asked our readers when they think is the right time to decorate for Christmas.
Pope Francis tells Thai Catholics to seek out family members missing from the Sunday table
To be “a missionary disciple is not a mercenary of the faith,” Pope Francis told the Catholics of Thailand, but rather “a humble mendicant” who longs to bring missing family members to the Sunday table.t
Meet Archbishop José Gomez, the first Latino president of the U.S. bishops
On Nov. 12, the U.S. bishops elected Archbishop Gomez to be the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the first ballot.
Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis tells Thai Catholics to seek out family members missing from the Sunday table
To be “a missionary disciple is not a mercenary of the faith,” Pope Francis told the Catholics of Thailand, but rather “a humble mendicant” who longs to bring missing family members to the Sunday table.t
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts