Perspective
Our balm for 2020: the communion of saints
Paula Kraus wasn’t afraid to utter the wish burning on her heart, the one that seizes so many preparing to lose a loved one. The Minnesota mom yearned for some […]
Perspective Archive
Perspective
Is mandating a COVID-19 vaccine ethical?
Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver told a local news station in August that he planned to mandate COVID-19 immunizations for Virginians once a vaccine becomes available to the […]
Perspective
For which imperfect candidate should I vote?
Elections invite us to cast our vote as citizens and choose the best possible public leaders to meet the exigencies of our present time and circumstances. Whether voting for president […]
A more human society
Two kinds of feminism
“Today, our nation mourns the loss of a trailblazer, not only in the field of law, but in the history of our country.” So begins President Donald Trump’s proclamation on […]
Perspective
How to be a witness to the truth
In the Scriptures, the Devil is called “Diabolos,” which by the time of the New Testament comes to mean “Slanderer,” but derives from the Greek verb “to divide.” The Devil […]
Perspective
The Church’s guidance for the Catholic voter
There is much to appreciate about working in the Catholic press, but every four years can become an occasion to think about a career change. Every four years, not coincidentally, […]
Perspective
How does idealism affect marriage?
Those who seek to strengthen holy matrimony and stem the tide of failed marriages propose many remedies, among them better catechesis, improved marriage preparation and greater emphasis on the sacrament […]
Perspective
Sweeter than the honeycomb
I’m certainly not the first person to observe that the tone of our civic discourse has gotten increasingly angry. I have recently come to realize, though, that some people actually […]
Perspective
What comes after the pandemic?
While we are still in the midst of the worst pandemic of the past century, with almost 200,000 people dead in our country alone, Pope Francis is thinking about what […]
Perspective
‘Hark! The herald angels
Our American culture is prone to make-believe. Fairies, mermaids, hobbits and gnomes are all popular pretend creatures in books, movies and gardens, capturing people’s imaginations. Real, spiritual creatures, such as […]
Perspective
You’re meant to be an eagle, not a chicken: a reflection on baptism
When I was doing full-time parish ministry, one of my favorite activities was performing baptisms. I put the word in the plural, for I hardly ever baptized one baby at […]
Perspective
New life in Catholic education
The start of the 2020-21 school season, however frustrating and uncertain, will miss about 150 Catholic schools that did not make it through the pandemic. It is hard not to […]