Commentaries
Pop stars can teach teens about teamwork
Stars like Beyonce and Madonna are so big they use only one name. But hordes of talented people are supporting them, and Karen Osborne sees a life lesson in that.
What is that graduation speech really saying?
Father William Byron notices how commencement speeches presume that the good life is more a matter of having than being, of achieving rather than relating.
In gratitude for creation — and bird droppings
What happens when bird feeders proliferate in the neighborhood? Effie Caldarola thanks God for the beauty of creation, while her husband cleans up the inevitable end result.
Lamentations for the Christians of the Middle East
Columnist John Garvey thinks the ancient Israelites would recognize the plight of today's Christians in the Middle East, who are persecuted by a resurgent Islamic militancy.
Finance councils: Serving the parish as stewards
Finance council members are "essential to the vitality of the parish," and 114 such individuals attended a recent workshop to hone their skills.
In Baltimore, a lesson in blame
Columnist Carole Norris Greene distinguishes the thugs from peaceable Baltimore residents, and acknowledges some bad cops among good police officers.
While hoping for Romero’s sainthood, learn from his life
Father Gus Puleo reviews the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero before his beatification May 23, the lessons of his martyrdom and the power of the living Word of God.
Four words that can make a difference
"I made a mistake." If we all used those words more often, the world might be a happier place, says writer Erick Rommel.
Digging through life with the hands of Christ
As people picked through the rubble after Nepal's earthquake, Effie Caldarola got to thinking about the work of human hands and what they're meant to do.
Papal letter on environment spawning ugliness already
An editorial points out the shameful campaign against Pope Francis and his letter on the environment even before its release. Belittling the pope is wrong, and we're better than that.