Like a Connecticut pastor, young people can be heroes for Christ

Editorial
Msgr. Robert Weiss, the pastor who was one of the spiritual first responders on the scene of the horrific shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School became somewhat of a hero in the media, recounting some of the words of comfort he spoke to families and friends of the slain and as important, his presence with them.

For someone seeking to make a difference in the world, to live a life of high purpose but with humility, the priesthood or religious life may be the vocation to which God is calling them.

Gun ownership is not an absolute right

The following column appeared in the Jan. 3 issue of the Rhode Island Catholic, diocesan newspaper of Providence, R.I.
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The right to own guns is not an absolute right. As a personal right it always has to be balanced with the legitimate rights of other people and with protecting the common good. That’s a principle that [...]

We are not meant to be alone, and we need ‘communio’ more than ever

In this age of ruthless bottom-line efficiency, of a libertarian ethos that celebrates the strong individual and scorns the weak, there is a need to recover the Catholic sensibility of communio.
We are not alone, nor are we meant to be alone. Instead, we are called to support and sustain one another. In the Acts of [...]

The real marriage crisis

A great deal of ink has been spilled on the Petraeus scandal. We hesitate to spill more, but we can’t help but note that much of the finger-pointing seems a bit off target.

What gets ignored is the fact that this isn’t just the comeuppance that comes to celebrity. The disregard of marriage vows is widespread in society — not just in the media and popular culture, but also in our communities. Ask not at whom the finger points. It points at us.

New evangelization should focus on non-practicing Catholics

A guest editorial states that it’s those Catholics who have drifted away from the church, either calling themselves former Catholics or just failing to practice their faith, that we must make efforts to reclaim. We don’t do that, though, by watering down the church’s teachings.

Rather, we must try to make them see that belief and adherence to the teachings of the church are the best ways for people to find happiness — eternal happiness in heaven, to be sure, but also happiness here on earth.

After Sandy: Patience, hope and the work of the church

What we have seen and experienced in the last two weeks has been mind-numbing. Since we have weathered many hurricanes in the past, it is hard to believe that such a storm could create such havoc in our communities as Sandy did.

The power may have been pulled, but the church has never stood stronger as when one person reached out across the street and brought his brother or sister to shelter. This is the work of the church of Jesus at its best.

The Year of Faith: It’s time to get to work

Responding to editors’ requests for a regular sampling of current commentary from around the Catholic press, here is an unsigned editorial from the Oct. 3 issue of the St. Louis Review, newspaper of the St. Louis Archdiocese.
The numbers are startling but should come as no surprise.
In the last 20 years, our local church has seen [...]

Parish restructuring: Hard work by many, for the good of all (Editorial)

It would be too easy to look at the list of almost 60 parishes engaged in a restructuring or dialogue process this autumn and expect that they’ll all be ordered to close at any moment without so much as a peep from pastors and their parishioners. Far from it.
The parish restructuring process currently under way [...]

Every vote counts

Every four years arrives both a great opportunity to participate in the democratic process and a brutal marathon of attack ads and speechifying that can exhaust all but the most partisan of voters. Presidential election years seem to combine the best and the worst of American politics, but what is undeniable is that for months on end, little else gets much attention.

This election year, it would be a big mistake to overlook what else is on the ballot. There are many ballot measures that require the attention of all voters, especially Catholics. The moral issues involved and the implications for our country are such that Catholics must school themselves in what the church teaches on a variety of issues, from the treatment of undocumented immigrants to abortion, same-sex marriage and physician-assisted suicide.

Our faith should transform our politics

The following guest editorial appeared Sept. 5 on the website of Columbia magazine, a publication of the Knights of Columbus, by Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus and a New York Times bestselling author. His latest book is “Beyond a House Divided: The Moral Consensus Ignored by Washington, Wall Street and the [...]