Lives on the Line is a powerful account of what low-income Americans endure in their struggle to raise children in surroundings of poverty The detailed descriptions of these quot lives quot profiles of 10 families of diverse racial and geographical backgroundsare placed in meaningful context by th

There are various ways to render the past in order to understand what has happened and why Some historians favor a scrutiny of political and military leadership and so regale their readers with accounts of decisive elections won wars fought victoriously or to no successful outcome all told with

An older Jesuit once told me he felt that priests have a much harder life than laypeople. We’re always "on call," he explained, and have so many responsibilitiescelebrating Masses, hearing confessions, living in community, preparing homilies and the like. Laypeople can set their own

A recent series of articles in The Kansas City Star on Catholic priests suffering from AIDS-related illnesses has focused attention on a difficult issue. Despite the incendiary nature of its topic, the seriesthough flawedaimed for balance and proved compelling. The survey’s main weaknesses lay

This past year my wife and I grew weary of the vertiginous dance of dual-career parenting. In the end, I decided to surrender the professorial life in order to pursue nonacademic writing and be with my kids, who are one and three. Everyone has been very supportive: "You’re doing the right

The Rev. Jim Consedine, a priest in the Diocese of Christchurch in New Zealand, is national coordinator for his country’s Restorative Justice Network. A prison chaplain for 21 years, he is the author of two books: Restorative Justice: Healing the Effects of Crime (1995, 1999) and, with Helen B

One of the perennial problems facing liberal democracies with a domestic security threat is how to meet that threat without sacrificing some of the very values that make the society liberal and democratic. The Israeli Supreme Court was recently confronted with precisely this issue, and the judgment

As wave after wave of poor immigrants pushed their way across the vast American continent, they thought they had discovered a land with unlimited resources. Through hard work and ingenuity, levels of comfort and luxury were gradually created that became the envy of the world.During this struggle for

The recent spate of self-help books has spilled over into self-help theology. We are exhorted to "have faith." We are invited to "make a decision for Christ." We are encouraged to "accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior." We are asked if we have "found Christ.&quot