Columns
The ethics of pig to human organ transplants
Early this year, a Maryland man suffering from severe heart failure underwent a new experimental procedure, receiving a pig heart transplant. His medical team had determined he would be a […]
Columns Archive
The Sunday Gospel
Our response to God’s love and salvation
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 1:1-14, 4:14-21 The Book of Nehemiah furnishes the first reading for this weekend. Although some Old Testament books tell the history of the people […]
Perspective
Bridging divides shoulder to shoulder
The anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot that humiliated Congress and horrified a good portion of our nation has gone more or less as one might have predicted during these […]
Perspective
A missed opportunity to amplify the beauty and generosity of adoption
During his first general audience of 2022, Pope Francis gave a rather lovely catechesis on St. Joseph and adoption — the sixth such address in a series about the foster-father […]
Perspective
‘The Ten Commandments’ and our pathetic attention span
I like to watch old movies. Over the past several months, I’ve watched (or re-visited) a number of Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, some screwball comedies from the thirties and forties, and a couple of […]
The Sunday Gospel
Mary’s example shows to us the glory of the Lord
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time John 2:1-11 The Book of Isaiah furnishes this weekend’s first reading. When the third section of Isaiah was written, the Hebrew people had just emerged […]
Perspective
Resolutions for today
I think New Year’s resolutions are silly. Under the guise of “get healthy” and “better yourself” we establish arbitrary and often unrealistic goals to eat less, move around more, spend less […]
Perspective
Eugenics, forced sterilization and protecting the mentally challenged
Although most Americans today are unaware of it, the United States has a sad and extensive history of forced sterilizations, especially within the past century. In 1907, Indiana legalized forced […]
Perspective
What are the laity supposed to be?
Back in the 1950s, Dorothy Day, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, began to articulate a vision that was largely ratified at the Second Vatican Council. She said that […]
Perspective
In Jesus, the glory of God’s love has been revealed
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is very important to the Church’s mission of bringing us to Christ. […]
Perspective
The thrifting Catholic: giving new life to old things
Emily Hannon was surprised by the children’s clothes she saw at big-box stores and popular websites when she became a mom. And not in a good way: Obnoxious graphics, offensive […]
Perspective
In the storm’s wake, our neighbors need us
Christmas this year arrived amid shock and tears. The images of devastation wrought by at least 22 tornadoes slashing their way through Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois are etched in […]