Commentaries
New graduates about to walk the twisting paths of life
For those graduating high school or college, it's an exciting and frightening time of new doors opening to happiness -- however that's defined -- in this life and ultimately toward salvation, writes Maria-Pia Negro Chin.
Kids are growing up before him, but Dad’s eyes are on TV
In their Marriage Matters column, Deacon Paul and Helen McBlain advise a man who still wants to watch sports with his buddies, while his wife raises the children without him, to grow up and spend time with his family.
A view of unfairness and financial ruin, from one who went through it
Delaware lawyer Stephen Jenkins saw first hand how lifting the statutes of limitations for sex abuse lawsuits routed church ministries in the First State, and he warns of a double standard for abuse in public schools in Pa.
Why can’t women vote in the Vatican?
Father Ken Doyle explains to a reader that among the 800 citizens of the Holy See, only cardinals can vote in an election -- for the pope. The priest in his Q&A points out recent gains by women in the Vatican.
‘Follow your dreams’ — then get to work
Slogans such as "do what you love" can be a recipe for disaster, writes Erick Rommel, if we don't have an unwavering commitment to the kind of hard work that leads to success.
Showing the presence of Mary in an increasingly secular world
John McGarvey laments that faith is a less visible feature of public life in America than it was in his youth. But among today's growing Catholic Hispanic population, public devotion to Mary remains strong.
At Hiroshima, urging peace and an end to materialism
Jesuit Father William Byron advises President Obama to read a prophetic account of the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945. Humanity still grapples with the cause and effects of a universe split open.
Welcoming the stranger with familiar food
Effie Caldarola bought halal meat for the first time as a gift for resettled Muslim refugees. Food may be a little thing but Jesus didn't ask us to do big things to "welcome the stranger," only to try.
Tragic fire kills four, but unites community in hope and faith
Father Gus Puleo recounts the funeral at his parish, St. Patrick's in Norristown, for two little girls killed in a house fire in which there were no smoke detectors. The rites were a public lesson in the resurrection.
Seek the eternal in a busy world
Maria-Pia Negro Chin sees exhausted young people rushing from one activity to the next, and at times she too stresses over many things. If we have God's love, she writes, what are we stressed about?