Papal authority has expanded dramatically over the last 150 years. But our age has seen something new—informal papal teachings meant as pastoral encouragements more than doctrinal clarifications.

When it comes to how they spend their free time, why they study and what they envision for their life beyond the classroom, students are trying to pursue happiness. Too often, however, this wrestling does not go far enough.

It does not necessarily follow that because a teacher has violated church teaching, and his or her contract, that he or she should be terminated.

In many instances I try to teach them how to read and understand “Humanae Vitae” as a real, authoritative document.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger responds to a 2001 America article by Cardinal Walter Kasper on the relationship between the universal church and local churches.

There is no plausible explanation available today to account for how Jesus’ tomb became empty.