Perspective
The Advent of Population Decline
As we await the birth of the Savior Child, it seems fitting to note that in many parts of the developed world, the lack of babies is a growing concern. […]
Perspective
In Business for the Common Good
Catholic entrepreneurs have an imposing defender in Andreas Widmer. Think business guru Peter Drucker wielding a halberd. The 6-foot-9-inch ex-Swiss Guard is an entrepreneur, teacher, and enthusiastic cheerleader of the […]
Perspective
Catholics Weigh in with their Concerns
Catholics have lots of opinions about their Church these days, from preaching to polarization. So imagine what happens when you ask 700,000 what they think. That’s how many Americans took […]
Perspective
Expanding the Circle of Protection
One of the maddening aspects of America’s political landscape for Catholics is the inconsistencies of both political parties. Some folks may oppose the death penalty but are just fine with […]
Perspective
A Tree Falls and is Noticed
I’ve never lost a tree before. Our property had three magnificent oaks, each more than a hundred, maybe 150 years old. Like J.R.R. Tolkien’s Ents, each had its own gravitas. […]
Perspective
Appreciating good homilies
Here’s an answer that should show up on Catholic Jeopardy: “Eight minutes.” The question is: “What does Pope Francis think the ideal length of a homily should be?” This pope, […]
Perspective
A tale of two weddings
How do we attract people to our Church? How do we invite people to “come and see”? These are questions being asked with greater urgency these days. The “nones,” that […]
Perspective
My sense, your nonsense
A friend of mine is threatening to run for office. His slogan will be “Stop the Nonsense.” I think it’s a slogan an increasing number of us could get behind. Nonsense […]
Perspective
The squeakiest wheels and the rest of us
What if there are not one but two chasms that divide Americans today? One chasm separates the reds and blues, the ideologically conservative and the ideologically progressive. This is the […]
Perspective
Evening news despair and Easter hope
One of the best decisions my wife and I ever made was to keep our television out of the bedroom. We’ve never fallen asleep bathed in the blue glow of […]
Perspective
What kind of Christian do others think we are?
When Pope Francis announced that the next world Synod of Bishops would convene on the topic of synodality, a lot of eyebrows were raised. A synod on synodality seemed redundant, […]
Perspective
Lessons from Ukraine’s witness
Putin’s war is teaching us something about ourselves, if we are paying attention. The scenes of brave Ukrainians standing in front of tanks, making Molotov cocktails, picking up arms to […]