At a time when the church’s doctrinal teachings on faith and morals are questioned everywhere, the relevance of such teachings to the believers brought up in diverse contexts is of utmost importance.
Faith
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Popes Francis and Benedict agree: we must not confuse proselytism and evangelization
If our true desire is for others to know Christ, we must imitate him. Authentic evangelization is not accomplished through clever argumentation but by bearing witness to the working of God’s love and mercy in our lives.
Posted inFaith, News
Vatican stats: number of Catholics and deacons up, but priests, nuns and baptisms down
The Vatican agency, Fides, has published a brief overview on the global number of Catholics, permanent deacons, seminarians, and more.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
The liberating work of mercy: Banning ‘servile work’
The church’s teaching on servile work as it developed over the centuries is another indicator of how the church constantly sought ways not only to extend its evangelization but to challenge itself to recognize fully the others for whom Christ died.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: The intersection of faith and mental illness
Anna Gazmarian’s ‘Devout’ is an emotional, vulnerable portrait of a woman who was failed by two institutions, both science and religion, that she rightfully believed would help her.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Dear U.S. bishops: Here’s how to help JD Vance understand church teaching on migrants
Why can’t the U.S. bishops use their bully pulpit and their extensive media access to issue a public rebuke to JD Vance, as they did to Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi?
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Gratitude, sorrow, suffering and mercy: R.I.P. Greg Hillis
Greg Hillis, who died on the morning of Oct. 8, leaves behind a large and diverse community of family and friends all over the world. For so many of us, he was a true friend in the Lord.
Posted inFaith, The Good Word
Never outgrow enchantment
A Homily for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Terrance Klein
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Remembering Kris Kristofferson, outlaw and pilgrim
Kris Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar, a literary wunderkind and the lyricist behind many songs made famous by more prominent voices. Kristofferson was also—hear me out on this—a man for whom religious faith was an important part of his life.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
A year of anxiety and anguish for the Jewish people
One year after Oct. 7, we live amid a stunning increase in antisemitism. Never in my nearly 40 years as a rabbi have I heard so many expressions of despair from the Jewish community. Never have I come so close to it myself.