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Books
Mar 08, 2004 issueWith 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
Books
Mar 08, 2004 issueThis 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
Editorials
"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
News
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
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
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
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, counseling, shelter and medical care.
As long as women feel that they have no choice but to abort, the culture of death will prevail. When life-affirming alternatives are as easily available as abortion, the culture of death will lose its appeal.
Mary Anne and Pete Gummere
Of Many Things
During his surprising appearance on “Meet the Press” on Feb. 8, President Bush outlined what most observers believe will be the basic argument of his campaign for re-election in November 2004. The dominant theme of that campaign was probably captured in the president’s assertion to
News
4,450 Priests Accused of Abusing 11,000 ChildrenCNN reported on Feb. 16 that, according to a draft report it had obtained about sexual abuse of minors by U.S. Catholic priests and deacons, roughly 4,450 members of the clergy have been accused of abusing a total of 11,000 minors between 1950 and 2002
"I couldn’t find anyone else to go—it was too close to Christmas.” But the matter was urgent: a death row prisoner was to be executed in two weeks, and he was asking for spiritual guidance. So Camille D’Arienzo, a Sister of Mercy from Brooklyn, made the journey with a pr