Commentaries

Tragedy in Orlando

We as a church hope to bring peace at a time when some may use events such as the Orlando shooting to divide groups against each other. We must respond to hatred with love, not succumbing to narratives of suspicion and fear.

A cup of coffee with the champ

Carole Norris Greene recalls the excitement of meeting Muhammad Ali in her youth, and the later disappointment of discovering his faults. She finds comfort in the forgiving words of Ali's ex-wife.

To reduce deaths, we must reduce guns

Even before the Orlando shooting spree, Moises Sandoval noted that last year 33,000 Americans lost their lives in gun violence. Making guns less available would "leave this earth better than we found it."

A life-giving idea: A place for those who need a kind listener

Effie Caldarola finds a social service agency on the second floor of a city bus terminal whose clients come not to be "fixed," but for someone to listen to them. "Listening is a sacred act," said the agency's head.

HB 1947 treats churches, other private institutions differently

Under the state bill, non-public schools and non-profits would be exposed to retroactive claims dating back decades, while public entities such as schools could only be sued for abuse that occurs in the future, explains Joelle Shea.

Put down the phone and say hello to civility

Father John Catoir wonders how we've come to the point of cellphone obsession that diminishes our sensitivity to the feelings of others. We can't control others' behavior, but we can control ours at home.

Sisters’ care is so good, people hope to be poor to get into their home

Megan Schrieber remembers the heartache of watching old people die alone in a nursing home. She also knows the joy flowing through Holy Family Home, the Philadelphia facility run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

New graduates about to walk the twisting paths of life

For those graduating high school or college, it's an exciting and frightening time of new doors opening to happiness -- however that's defined -- in this life and ultimately toward salvation, writes Maria-Pia Negro Chin.

Kids are growing up before him, but Dad’s eyes are on TV

In their Marriage Matters column, Deacon Paul and Helen McBlain advise a man who still wants to watch sports with his buddies, while his wife raises the children without him, to grow up and spend time with his family.

A view of unfairness and financial ruin, from one who went through it

Delaware lawyer Stephen Jenkins saw first hand how lifting the statutes of limitations for sex abuse lawsuits routed church ministries in the First State, and he warns of a double standard for abuse in public schools in Pa.