A Broken World: Benedict XV’s efforts for peace during the First World War
This year marks the centenary of one of the greatest disasters humanity ever brought upon itself, the First World War. Not only did it cost the lives of over 16 million people; it also set the stage for other conflicts and even greater carnage in the decades that followed. In fact, its legacy of fea
A World at War: The legacy of a global cataclysm
A Catholic chaplain wrote from the front in 1915, in the face of bloodletting on an almost unimaginable scale, words that have lost none of their accuracy and power across the generations: “War, war, sickening war. My God how long, how long…. Who can resist a cry of passionate resentment aga
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
The drive to kill and conquer has more to do with original sin than entangled alliances.
Letters
Reply All
The Role of ConscienceEditor’s note: Lisa Fullam, an associate professor of moral theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif., a graduate school of Santa Clara University, responds to “The Ethics of Exit,” by Daniel J. Daly (6/9). Her letter expresses concerns rai
Editorials
After Hobby Lobby: The editors respond to the Supreme Court ruling
Framing the court ruling as a victory for religious freedom, while accurate, is perhaps too narrow.
Faith in Focus
The Man With One Leg: An early encounter with death
Fay Vincent Jr. reflects on an early encounter with death.
Unfinished Houses: Building the kingdom on God’s time
International service experiences teach volunteers to ‘build the kingdom on God’s time.’
Books
Courage Too Rare
While scholarly literature about the Holocaust is vast and continually expanding writings about the members admittedly very few in number of the resistance are still quite rare Men and women familiar to scholars like Gertrud Luckner John M Oesterreicher Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Henri de Lubac
His Signature Message
One of the many expressions of the ldquo Francis effect rdquo is the renewed prominence of ldquo mercy rdquo Pope Francis of course is not the first pope to speak of mercy in the context of God rsquo s relationship with humanity but it is certainly his signature tune mdash the word occurs mo
Seeing Things As They Are
We know for sure that someone is permanently relevant when his or her name becomes an adjective In the week mdash last week of March 2014 mdash I finished the most recent of the very many intellectual biographies of George Orwell his adjectived name appeared twice in Brooklyn in our diocesan news
Art
An Endless Experiment: The Sigmar Polke retrospective at MoMA
“Alibis: Sigmar Polke 1963–2010″ is at the Museum of Modern Art in New York through Aug. 3.
Poetry
Skeletal Prayer
I speak bones to you in the morning—hollow, fragile, ordained frameworks,their marrow winnowed by earth time. I hear emptiness in my pleas for health,forgiveness, prosperity. Echoes ossifywhere blood once pulsed and built. Like the half-attentive spouse who’s learnedto monotone
The Word
The New and the Old
Here is a desire new and old ask for anything in the world and it will be yours Usually in fairy tales and legends three wishes are granted Then after poor choices or ambiguously worded requests the truth is discovered about what really matters Lessons are learned the hard way The First B
A Tangible Love
The Guardian newspaper reported on June 19 that according to a U N report ldquo the number of people forced to flee their homes across the world has exceeded 50 million for the first time since the second world war an exponential rise that is stretching host countries and aid organisations to br
Columns
Community of Creation
I have long wondered if a “stewardship” response to the environment is sufficient or even if it is correct.
Current Comment
Current Comment
Government efforts have shifted homeless from tourist spots to other parts of the city.
Faith
And the Word Went Viral: Finding God at the intersection of Scripture and popular media
Mary E. Hess on finding God at the intersection of Scripture and popular media
News
My father’s war: A note to my father on the 100th anniversary of the US entrance into WWI
World War I stories include several about enemies who discovered one another’s humanity. On the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into the war, this is one.
Of Other Things
An Age of Consent
In combatting sexual assault on campus, is there a middle ground between “Just say no” and “Please sign here”?
Signs Of the Times
Religious Exemption Sought
Religious and civic leaders urged President Obama to include a religious exemption in the planned White House executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In a letter on July 1, the group of 14 faith leaders, including the Rev. Larr
U.S. Bishops: Protect Border Kids
Bishop says influx of young migrants is a humanitarian crisis, not an immigration problem.
News Briefs
Sudanese government authorities demolished the Church of Christ in Thiba Al Hamyida in North Khartoum on June 30 after giving the church’s leaders just 24 hours notice, evidence of increasing pressure in Sudan against minority Christians. · Six years after reaching a $10 million settlem
U.S. Bishops Say Fight Continues After Hobby Lobby Ruling
‘Justice has prevailed,” said two U.S. archbishops, commenting on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Hobby Lobby case on June 30. The court determined that certain “closely held” private businesses can be exempted from a government requirement to include contraceptives in t
Pope Francis Inspires Local Synods
Bridgeport’s new bishop holds listening sessions to learn the concerns of parishioners.
Pope Urges End to Land Mines
Landmines wound innocent civilians, “prolong war and nurture fear” long after conflicts have ended.
The Living Word
And the Word Went Viral: Finding God at the intersection of Scripture and popular media
Mary E. Hess on finding God at the intersection of Scripture and popular media
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts