Al Smith and John F. Kennedy must be enjoying a good chuckle as they watch Democrats and Republicans engage in finger-pointing about anti-Catholicism. Though at one time being Catholic was a liability when running for national office, now candidates try to outdo each other by professing their abhorr

Every chance I get, I read. But why? For many reasons, of course: to educate myself, for aesthetic pleasure, to gather information and, underlying all the rest, out of a deeply ingrained sense of duty. I suppose a sense of duty is wrapped up in almost everything I do, including reading. Like any pro

Oscar Romero was assassinated on March 24, 1980. Marking the 20th anniversary of the death of this saintly manthe process for his beatification has already beguntwo books have appeared. One is Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writing, by Marie Dennis, Renny Golden and Scott Wright (Orbis).

Vermont Bishop Decries Passage of Civil Unions’ BillBishop Kenneth A. Angell of Burlington said a bill approved by the Vermont House allowing civil unions between homosexuals is simply same-sex marriage under another name. The bishop said the 76-to-69 vote made him feel the way he supposed a m

Most Complex SocietyIn his column (2/12) Terry Golway generalizes and oversimplifies about adolescent society. He claims that any adolescent or young adult who strives for knowledge in education, abides by a moral code and delves into cultural interests such as non-mainstream music (jazz, classical,

One February day last year, I was working at my office as Dominican formation director, when I received a call from Karen Pollard, B.V.M., of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Criminal Justice Ministry. She told me that a prisoner on death row in Potosi Correctional Institute, about 70 miles from St. Louis

Donald Cozzens sits at a unique crossroads being both a priest of 35 years and the rector of a major seminary So this must have been at once a sadand yet liberatingbook to write For what Father Cozzens rector of St Mary Seminary in Cleveland has embarked upon is as comprehensive and honest an

With civil wars exploding around the world the essays in The Open Door come at an opportune moment Originally given as annual addresses before the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland co-publisher with the Center for International Health and Cooperation they represent the thought of some of the

The congregation of the Sisters of Life was founded in 1991 by Cardinal John O’Connor of New York to promote the sanctity of human life. Among the first to join, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, S.V., has been superior general since 1993; she resides at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent in New York