Last week in Chicago, bishops from throughout the United States and a few from other parts of the world engaged in dialogue with theologians, scholars and journalists about the state of the church.
Vatican II
Posted inFaith, News Analysis
Pope Francis is drawing on Vatican II to radically change how the Catholic Church is governed
After nine years, Pope Francis has unveiled a major reform of the Vatican Curia—though its emphases may sound familiar.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: How to live a scholarly life with gratitude and grace
In his new memoir, John W. O’Malley reflects on a life of priestly ministry and teaching, and offers lessons on how to live a scholarly life.
Posted inFaith, Your Take
Can ‘traditional’ Catholics support Pope Francis? Our readers weigh in.
America’s readers respond to an article by Terence Sweeney’s in which he says that supporting Pope Francis is fully compatible with being a “traditional” Catholic.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
I’m a ‘traditional’ Catholic. That’s exactly why I love Pope Francis (and am baffled by his critics)
Both critics and supporters fail to see the traditionalism of Pope Francis. Let us share his confidence in Christ. Let us join him in guarding the tradition and preaching the good news.
Posted inFaith, News
Archbishop Roche: Most bishops understand the need for Pope Francis’ Latin Mass restrictions
While the church’s prayer should not be a battlefield, Archbishop Roche says it is understandable that people are passionate about it.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
4 lessons from Rutilio Grande, priest, prophet and martyr
Rutilio Grande, S.J., who will be beatified on Jan. 22, has much to teach us about how to live a life of Christian discipleship.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
I just don’t get the controversy over the traditional Latin Mass
Recent edicts and explanations of edicts out of Rome have ignited a familiarly unpleasant conflict in the U.S. church. And yet, though this will infuriate a vocal minority of my fellow Catholics, I just don’t get the brouhaha over the traditional Latin Mass.
Posted inFaith, Short Take
Please don’t turn Notre-Dame into a post-Vatican II cathedral to the modern world
Like many parish churches built in the 1970s and ’80s, the Notre-Dame redesign seems to take its inspiration from sensibilities unique to our own decades, rather than drawing on time-tested understandings of God.
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
The new Gather hymnal is just good enough — and that’s perfect
You might call it the Walmart of hymnals. It doesn’t drill down into any one category. It doesn’t specialize. But it covers most of the bases that most parishes and parishioners would expect.