Perspective
Theotokos
“Theotokos:” A word that to the average American ear might sound like an appetizer on a Greek menu, is actually older than spanakopita itself. This word is an ancient Greek […]
Columns Archive
Perspective
The foxes and the henhouse
Probably the biggest bioethics story of 2019 involved Dr. Jankui He — known to his associates as “JK” — a Chinese scientist who employed a new technology called CRISPR/Cas9 to […]
A more human society
Catholic judges under the microscope
Catholics wanting to serve our country in the legal system are coming under intense scrutiny. In 2017, University of Notre Dame law professor Amy Coney Barrett was grilled by members […]
The Sunday Gospel
All people may hope for salvation, through Jesus
Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord Matthew 2:1-12 This weekend the Church invites us to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, one of the most revered […]
Perspective
Synchrony and culture
Last month I paid a visit to Bar-Ilan University in Israel for a discussion about the role of faith in higher education. Bar-Ilan is distinctive among Israeli universities in its […]
Perspective
A thrill of hope
The arena was perfectly silent. Twenty thousand young people knelt at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as the Eucharist was exposed in a monstrance on the altar in the center […]
Bishop's Column: In Truth and Charity
The Shining Example of the Holy Family
The following homily was delivered by Bishop Rhoades at a Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Dec. 29: When we think of […]
The Sunday Gospel
Family life is rooted in the unconditional love of God
Feast of the Holy Family Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 The Book of Sirach is part of the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. As are many other books in this body […]
The Sunday Gospel
God asks for our honest, total love this Advent
Fourth Sunday of Advent Matthew 1:18-24 This weekend the Church celebrates the fourth and last Sunday of Advent 2019. For its first reading, this weekend’s liturgy offers a reading from […]
Perspective
Books for Christmas – 2019
Resist the twitterization of thought — give books for Christmas! The following titles will delight, instruct, edify or all of the above: “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” by Andrew Roberts (Viking) […]
Perspective
‘The Crown’ and the primacy of grace
Spoiler alert Like, I daresay, most of the English-speaking world, these past couple of years I’ve been watching episodes of “The Crown,” the beautifully filmed, marvelously written program on the […]
Perspective
Finding reason to hope amid the pessimism
My father-in-law, Joseph, was a wonderful guy. An immigrant who passionately loved America, he was hardworking, honest and thrifty. He had a laborer’s hands but a poet’s mind. Joseph had […]