Perspective
The emigrant’s brave farewell
We talk a great deal in this country about immigration, too often in language that is hostile or fearful. What we don’t talk about is emigration, the act of leaving […]
Perspective Archive
Perspective
Being a fearless son
Through our own sacramental life, beginning with baptism and finding its perfection in the Eucharist, the Father speaks the very same words over us. In baptism, we become adopted sons […]
Perspective
Searching for silver linings: grace after the storm
Business was good. So good, in fact, that the family company had become one of the largest breweries in New England, producing 300,000 barrels a year and supporting two generations […]
Perspective
Still the silent killer
I recently was asked to be a guest on the “Doctor, Doctor” show that airs on Redeemer Radio at 1 p.m. Fridays and again at 11 a.m. Saturdays. The topic […]
Perspective
And you are Christ’s
Kiara: “I’m not just a princess, you know. That’s only half of who I am!” Pumbaa: “Oh. Uh, who’s the other half?” Kiara: “Oh, well, I …” While a new […]
Perspective
Parish boundaries still matter
In my 30 years of priesthood I have come to see the genius in the fact that every Catholic diocese is divided into parishes with definitive geographical boundaries; the strongest […]
Perspective
Holy days of obligation
We have begun the four-and-a-half-month span — between the solemnities of the Assumption (Aug. 15) and Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1) — into which all our holy days of […]
Perspective
Who is ignoring women’s health?
“You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.” This observation, attributed to Democratic politician Daniel Patrick Moynihan, comes to mind as I […]
Perspective
An authentic democracy
Those of us who have grown up within the womb of a democratic society may not always recognize how radical the idea behind such a society actually is, nor how […]
Perspective
Do we really believe in the Real Presence?
When Pope Francis recently said that every time we receive Communion, it should be like our first time, it reminded me of a friend’s story. He had left his then-youngest […]
Perspective
Getting beyond Darwin
Bishop Robert Barron and others working hard to evangelize the “Nones” — young adults without religious conviction — tell us that a major obstacle to a None embracing Christianity is […]
Perspective
Marriage: When expectations yield to love
This summer marks the special occasions of David’s and my 40th anniversary and the marriage of our older son Ryan to Sarah, our new daughter. In one of the pre-wedding […]