Commentaries

Halloween and the Catholic Church: From holy to scary to pricey

Professor Joe Kelly traces the roots of "All Hallows Eve" as a commemoration of saints to today's secular holiday marked by overly commercialized revelry, which takes a toll on poor children's families.

The Lord hears the shriek of the newborn

After three kids, Laura Kelly Fanucci still wants to drop everything when her baby cries. A mother's whole-body response to her crying baby might be like God's reaction to the cry of all those in need.

What’s the matter with planning the wedding of the century?

A couple's daughter and her fiance are planning an elaborate bash, which has Mom worried, but not Dad. Deacon Paul and Helen McBlain caution the young spouses-to-be to do diligent marriage prep before the big day.

Youths want to share digitally, and the church must listen as a family

Young people experience the world mediated by technology, writes Father Tom Dailey. The church must understand this and help them develop a relationship with God and others in person, which alone will give them the joy they seek.

Our hearts are restless, but Jesus is waiting for us

Restlessness is a sign that we are made by God, writes Maria-Pia Negro Chin. Like St. Augustine, when we live in a way that deepens our relationship with God we find that he meets us where we are and helps us to get where we need to be.

Beware the hollow man

What little we know of the Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock, reveals a man untethered from family or God, a man given to money; a man hollowed out, and into which evil entered, writes Greg Erlandson.

Respect Life Month calls us to ‘be not afraid’ of the vulnerable and disabled

All too often we fear those who are in some way handicapped, writes Sister Constance Veit. But Christ meets us in the midst of suffering and loss, so that we can offer hope to all.

We need to clearly distinguish the types of discrimination

A pending Supreme Court case highlights the differences between mindless prejudice and genuine religious convictions, writes Richard Doerflinger.

PREP innovations help to keep the kids (and parents) in the church

As a product of parish religious education programs, editor Matthew Gambino sees hope in the new ideas that parish leaders shared recently for delivering the content of faith to today's families.

When you’re down in the dumps, get to work in the dirt

Depression can leave us paralyzed and hopeless. But God can revive our spirits through the beauty of nature and simple garden tasks, writes Father Eugene Hemrick.