Much of the business appears to be routine, though the bishops as a body have been vocal in recent months about a range of political and social issues, as well as internal church politics, that are sure to come up during the meeting.
US Politics
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Pope Francis warns nuclear deterrence offers only a false sense of security
“International relations cannot be held captive to military force, mutual intimidation and the parading of stockpiles of arms,” Pope Francis said.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
U.S. Bishops: “unconscionable” tax bill raises taxes on the poor to pay for cuts for the wealthy
The bishops said the tax proposal “appears to be the first federal income tax modification in American history that will raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy.”
Posted inPodcasts, Politics & Society
Catholics who voted for Trump and love Pope Francis want real change.
This week’s guest is Father Jim McDermott, a Jesuit, screenwriter and America’s Los Angeles Correspondent. His latest piece is “Meet these Catholics who voted for Trump and love Pope Francis” Over 50 percent of U.S. Catholics voted for President Trump and about 80 to 90 percent like Pope Francis. Meeting Catholics who voted for Trump […]
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
World leaders are meeting at the Vatican to discuss nuclear weapons. Here’s why.
A Vatican conference represents the beginning of a coordination of Catholic universities, institutions and bishops’s conferences on this issue.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
FEMA rethinking ban on disaster aid to church buildings
When disaster strikes, houses of worship are often on the front lines, feeding and sheltering victims. Yet churches, synagogues and mosques are routinely denied FEMA aid.
Posted inEditorials, Politics & Society
The Editors: two good things trapped in a bad Republican tax bill
Cutting the corporate tax and limiting the home mortgage deduction are welcome reforms, but not in service of a windfall for the wealthiest households.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Responding to Texas church shooting, U.S. bishops renew call for gun control
There are signs that at least among some U.S. Catholic bishops, statements of grief and sorrow are being backed up with pledges to push for legislative action on guns.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
G.O.P. tax bill appears to roll back restrictions on Johnson Amendment
In its tax overhaul, GOP includes a repeal of a rule that limits the political speech of churches in exchange for tax-exemption.
Posted inFeatures, Politics & Society
Meet these Catholics who voted for Trump and love Pope Francis
The voters I spoke with were not single-issue voters, and they showed a comfort with, even insistence on, complexity around a range of issues that are part of our national conversation.