Columns Archive

Seeing abortion Default Thumbnail
Perspective

Seeing abortion

We stand at a pivotal point in the great moral debate over abortion in our country — not because new arguments have emerged, but rather because laws so breathtaking in […]

A letter to every young Catholic Default Thumbnail
Perspective

A letter to every young Catholic

Attention Catholic young people, by which I mean everyone under 30: Pope Francis has written you a letter. Called “Christ Is Alive,” it is a historic document in that it […]

We are called to believe in the Resurrection Default Thumbnail
The Sunday Gospel

We are called to believe in the Resurrection

Easter John 20:1-9 The Church celebrates the Easter Vigil late in the evening on Holy Saturday. These readings are those read during Masses on Easter Sunday itself. For its first […]

The ground is level at the foot of the altar Default Thumbnail
Perspective

The ground is level at the foot of the altar

There is something remarkably universal about most Catholic parishes in the U.S.: Our parishioners come from everywhere. The Catholic Church is 2,000 years old, is a presence in every country, […]

Creation, redemption, martyrdom Default Thumbnail
Perspective

Creation, redemption, martyrdom

A Lenten quiz: Which came first, God’s creation of the world or God’s covenant with Israel? If we think in terms of mere chronology, the answer is obvious. If we […]

A common medical event in church Default Thumbnail
Perspective

A common medical event in church

This past year at one of the morning Sunday Masses that I attended, one of the altar servers was kneeling during the consecration and violently fell forward, smashing her face […]

Jesus submitted to His death to secure our salvation Default Thumbnail
The Sunday Gospel

Jesus submitted to His death to secure our salvation

Palm Sunday Luke 22:14-23:56 The Church this weekend leads us to the climax of Lent, the observance of Holy Week, by offering the impressive liturgy of Palm Sunday. Recalling the […]

Movie reviews from the USCCB Default Thumbnail
Perspective

Movie reviews from the USCCB

‘The Best of Enemies’ NEW YORK (CNS) — “The Best of Enemies” (STX) is an appealing fact-based drama that promotes humane values and Gospel-guided behavior. On that basis, many parents […]

Celebrating mercy during Easter Default Thumbnail
Perspective

Celebrating mercy during Easter

Guest Commentary by Mary McClusky Easter is a time of great joy, hope and celebration, so why does the Church emphasize our sinfulness and great need for mercy on the […]

God in our future Default Thumbnail
Perspective

God in our future

At a cafe in Chicago, I was chatting with a British former journalist and economist who is currently director of social responsibility and sustainability at a large European company. We […]

Why you need a rule of life Default Thumbnail
Perspective

Why you need a rule of life

Socrates famously stated that the unexamined life is not worth living. After 2,500-ish years, those words still ring true. However, the Christian Event (the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus […]

Sin is real, but so is God’s loving mercy Default Thumbnail
The Sunday Gospel

Sin is real, but so is God’s loving mercy

Fifth Sunday of Lent John 8:1-11 The Book of Isaiah supplies the first reading for this weekend in Lent. The reading is from the second part of Isaiah, written at […]