Commentaries
How far the church has come this past year
The world's oldest bureaucracy doesn't move at breakneck speed by the world's standards, but it has made remarkable progress in creating reforms to counter clerical abuse, writes Greg Erlandson. Now comes the tough work of follow-through.
Penance for the passive
Legal attempts to break the seal of confession aren't surprising, given how few Catholics actually participate in the sacrament of reconciliation, writes John Garvey. In the long run, religious freedom will only matter if religion itself matters.
Yoda doesn’t live here anymore
You don’t have to be a Jedi master to grasp the urgent need to dial down the rhetoric and be citizens of this world and the next, before we lose our lives in both, writes Gina Christian.
On climate change, we’re going in the wrong direction, fast
In his ministry as summer chaplain at Yellowstone, Philadelphia native Father Rick Malloy sees the earth's delicate beauty and argues it's time to recover our courage and help heal our home.
Fathers make God’s love real in this world
Whether it's celebrated with gifts or simple words of gratitude, Father's Day reminds us how the Lord embraces us through the men who form us by everyday acts of sacrifice and leadership. In this set of articles, we mark the holiday with several reflections on fatherhood.
The real gifts Dad wants for Father’s Day
Ties and tools aren't on the list for Soren Johnson, who has instead come up with seven truths that he wants to prayerfully recommit to giving his kids this day, and always.
Adoption illuminates the mystery of God’s love
Father’s Day is a great moment to remember that as Christians we are all invited to reflect on our shared vocation as adopted children of God, writes Mark Banga, especially since some are called to witness to this love by adopting a child into their home.
My father, a man I once feared but came to love
Years after growing up on a remote New Mexico farm, Moises Sandoval learned that his father's strict discipline was born of a deep commitment to his family, and a desire to see his son become all that he could.
To all fathers: ‘Be not afraid’
Like St. Joseph, fathers are called to accept the joys and challenges of forming children, writes Deacon Paul Quinn. Although the task can be daunting, the rewards of this vocation -- which requires discipline, humility and patient love -- are endless.
Digital communications can spread the divine message
Smartphones and social media platforms have become new fields for evangelization and parish communications. Today parishes are spreading the Gospel message through cutting-edge technology channels.