This is the first Christmas in 35 years—my entire life—that I won’t be with my mother, father and older brother for Christmas.

A Reflection for the Second Friday of Advent

A Reflection for the Feast of St. Andrew

“We Catholics are not in the battle for religious freedom for sectarian purposes,” George Weigel says. “We are in this for everyone.”

“The assertion that abortion is ‘the’ pre-eminent issue in this political campaign for Catholics is itself a political statement, not a doctrinal one,” Bishop McElroy says.

What became clear over these past seven years is Francis’ unrelenting commitment to creating opportunities for open and mutual encounters between him and others.