John Carr’s vocation was as a layman working to help the church share, apply and act on the principles of Catholic social teaching. Now retired, he looks back on his 50 years of service and shares lessons learned.
Cover Story
Posted inFaith and Reason
Roundtable: Five theologians on Tomas Halik’s challenge to the contemporary Christian
Five theologians—Erin Brigham, Michael Kirwan, S.J., Brent Little, the Rev. Robert Imbelli and Rita George-Tvrtković—reflect on Tomas Halik’s ‘The Afternoon of Christianity’ and its relevance for the contemporary Christian.
Posted inBooks
George Saunders loves telling ghost stories
George Saunders’s place among the best living American writers is secure. And while Saunders is not often included in discussions of the best Catholic writers, in both his upbringing and his thematic concerns, his work fits solidly in the Catholic literary tradition.
Posted inFaith and Reason
Vatican II, ‘Nostra Aetate’ and interreligious dialogue: A radical turn in Catholic history
“Nostra Aetate” marked one of the most radical turns in Catholic history: a shift from suspicion to encounter, from a closed fortress to an open horizon.
Posted inInterviews
Interview: Our new columnist Gina Hens-Piazza on 40 years of teaching Scripture
Gina Hens-Piazza began writing America’s Word column with the start of the new liturgical year on the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30.
Posted inMusic
Praise and worship: the modern soundtrack of the U.S. Catholic Church
Across denominations, praise and worship music can be found both in Sunday morning church services and on Spotify playlists.
Posted inFaith in Focus
I found the heart of Christmas in the remains of an old English cathedral
The Coventry Cathedral is the birthplace of a Christmas carol featured on the latest season of “Hark!”—America Media’s podcast on the stories behind our favorite Christmas carols.
Posted inFeatures
Lessons from Catholics who have faced great suffering—but remained pilgrims of hope
Here are three stories of Catholics who did find sustenance from God in times that felt hopeless.
Posted inFeatures
U.S. Catholics are facing an authoritarian threat. The church has been here before.
The Catholic Church in the United States today is facing a crucial test. Will Catholic leadership accommodate and adapt itself to authoritarian power? Or will it offer leadership to give hope, oppose authoritarian abuses and defend human freedom?
Posted inFeatures
With God in Vegas: A visit to the newest archdiocese in the United States
Over the last 30 years, the archdiocese has seen the number of registered Catholics triple, from 250,000 in 1995 to 750,000 in 2025.