Commentaries

Building bridges of compassion is hard work

Moises Sandoval calls on the American electorate to vote for empathy next Tuesday. He tells how today's immigrants are real people with great gifts to be offered, if only we use our hands as the Lord wants.

To ‘fly away’ from turbulent times, or stay and transform them?

People are fed up with our uncouth political atmosphere and echo the psalmist's desire to flee far away. But Father Eugene Hemrick offers St. Paul's advice to configure our hearts to Christ and seek the good of others.

Before troubles erupt, put energy into prevention

The car, the refrigerator and the computer all broke at the same time, but Maureen Pratt knows the way to prevent breakdowns in relationships is to strengthen the fabric of our world before it frays.

‘Rise,’ and overcome your doubts

In his review of pop star Katy Perry's new song "Rise," Charlie Martin writes that God has placed his divine purpose into all of our lives. We can trust that even if our goal becomes elusive, God will guide us.

When overextended teens burn out, their health suffers

Just as burnout happens with adults, teens can be affected by stress, lack of sleep and constant emotional and physical overexertion. Maria-Pia Negro Chin suggests healthy habits to put balance in your life.

At election time, remember the things that really matter

We can and we will have better election campaigns because our future depends on it, writes Jesuit Father William Byron. He suggests shortening the process to six weeks and to getting money out of politics.

The beginning of life, the beginning of rights

Writer Ellen Giangiordano notices some public figures can't say when a person's rights begin, even though Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson knew exactly when those rights begin: with conception.

‘Digital immigrants’ around the family holiday table

Bill Dodds tells his grandkids about the "old country" -- the paper-and-pen world where he grew up -- and they are clueless about it, just as he was about his grandparents' childhood. Still, words of faith and family remain universal.

Her gift was an empty room, and she opened it for a refugee

Effie Caldarola sees a divine gift, and sacrifice, in her London friend's decision to open her home to a boy from war-torn Eritrea, one of millions caught in the worst refugee crisis in living memory.

How the presidential election is like a runaway trolley

John Garvey uses a moral philosophy thought experiment to look at how turning left leads to one tragedy, and turning right to another. He wonders how the brakes failed in this election, and where we steer from here.