Perspective
Language — veiling or unveiling moral truth?
To sanction or encourage certain wrongful actions, it is often necessary to manipulate language. The plain meaning of words can get in the way of convincing others they should tolerate […]
Columns Archive
Perspective
A greater tragedy
Many have commented on how unfortunate it was that it took the murder of George Floyd and the callous, deadly harassment of other Black men to bring about an acknowledgment […]
The Sunday Gospel
Seek the kingdom of God, and treasure it beyond all else
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:44-52 The First Book of Kings is the source of this weekend’s first reading. As might be supposed, the two books of Kings deal […]
Perspective
Living with heart failure
The most common reason to be admitted to a hospital in the United States after age 65 is heart failure. The initial symptoms at presentation may be acute or more […]
The Sunday Gospel
Choosing God as we live with human limitations
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary time Matthew 13:24-43 The Book of Wisdom provides this weekend’s first reading. Wisdom is the name not only of this book of the Old Testament, but […]
A more human society
Two approaches to racism
It is clear where the Catholic Church stands on racism. The U.S. bishops’ document for Catholic voters, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” has long condemned acts of racism as “violations […]
Perspective
Martin Luther King Jr. and the religious motivation for social change
A principal reason why the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was so successful both morally and practically was that it was led largely by people with a […]
Perspective
This moment of judgment
I’d be willing to bet that not many of us have watched a man die. Those of us who don’t go to war or work in intensive care units are […]
Perspective
‘Go and tell the Good News: the feast of St. Mary Magdalene’
This July 22, in the midst of the Church’s ordinary time of everyday life and summer heat, is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Catholic tradition nicknamed her “the apostle […]
The Sunday Gospel
The Word of God, planted in our hearts, is a command
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:1-9 The third and last section of the Book of Isaiah is the source of the first reading for this weekend. This reading was […]
Perspective
Justices fail to correct a serious mistake in latest abortion ruling
By Richard W. Garrett On Monday, a divided Supreme Court handed down its decision in a case called June Medical Services v. Russo, which involves a Louisiana law requiring abortionists […]
The Sunday Gospel
The Spirit of Christ is alive in us
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 11:25-30 This weekend, the first biblical reading is from the Book of Zechariah. It is thought that Zechariah was of the priestly caste and […]