Commentaries
New legal actions restore religious freedom and offer hope
Two announcements by the Trump administration, along with a recent settlement from the U.S. Department of Justice, provide protection for religious institutions impacted by the controversial "contraception mandate."
The courage to speak of racism in the family
Dialogue within families and communities is essential to tackling the very real problem of prejudice, writes Hosffman Ospino. If not addressed, the current polarizing climate will lead to further biases.
In today’s technology age, who is controlling whom?
What our magnificent breakthroughs in science really need is an innovative mastery, writes Father Eugene Hemrick, and an understanding of what real freedom means.
Young people might be onto the next big thing: the whole-life movement
College-age activists like Jeanne Marie Hathway reject the either/or option of pro-life or anti-poverty, and suggest an intersection of all issues affecting life as they meet in the intersection of the cross, the place of encounter.
Learning from first responders to bring order out of chaos
Recent natural disasters have highlighted several principles that enable rescuers to save lives, writes Maureen Pratt. By applying these lessons to our daily lives, we can build a more just and compassionate world.
Our response to suffering, before the end
Whether you die in your sleep or on your favorite golf course, meeting one's end doesn't mean hastening it but easing suffering to natural death, writes Richard Doerflinger. That is how one helps build a culture of life.
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.