The Catholic Book Club’s new selection studies the Catholic Church’s ecclesial response to modernity over the last century.
Vatican II
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: There is more than one way to convert to Catholicism
Many will find Sohrab Ahmari’s account of coming to faith compelling and moving, while others may find his emphasis on an authoritative church confusing or even off-putting.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Pope Benedict’s letter on sex abuse is not an attack on Francis (or Vatican II)
The pope and the pope emeritus are not so far apart: Both Benedict and Francis warn against responding to the abuse crisis with a ’self-made’ church that ignores the Gospel.
Posted inEditorials, Faith
The Editors on the eve of Vatican II: Will it succeed?
From 1962: What grounds exist for reasonable confidence in the Council’s outcome?
Posted inArts & Culture, Ideas
The day Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and Bruce Springsteen met at America magazine
Perhaps the most incredible day in the history of America happened in the lobby in 1967.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis puts dialogue with Lefebvrites under the doctrinal congregation
Pope Francis has suppressed the Ecclesia Dei Commission, a significant decision with consequences for the Holy See’s relations with the priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Daniel E. Burns: Don’t appoint bishops. Elect them.
The Catholic church would benefit if bishops felt more like local leaders and less like regional managers in a Rome-based nonprofit. One way to move in that direction would be to have the clergy elect their bishops.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Massimo Faggioli: Electing bishops will not solve the church’s problems.
There is no question that the process for the appointment of bishops should be updated. But the election of bishops with procedures similar to democratic elections would only exacerbate all kinds of rifts in the Catholic Church today.
Posted inFaith, Interviews
Lessons from John Allen Chau (and Francis Xavier) for Catholic missions today
How should Christians interpret and implement the Gospel mandate to bring the good news to all peoples and nations?
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Greater inclusion at the synod could complicate collegiality among bishops
New calls for greater synodality—and the inclusion of many more voices than just bishops—may complicate the role of collegiality in church governance.