Commentaries
Couple driven apart over how to discipline children
In their Marriage Matters column, Deacon Paul and Helen McBlain wrestle with the question of whether "sparing the rod" is a good or bad way to discipline children.
Immigration reform is no game – it’s the right thing to do
A university group’s “Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game” prompted Father Gus Puleo, pastor of a parish that serves many immigrant families, to ponder the DREAM Act and the bigger immigration issue.
A Catholic writer not for the faint of heart
Flannery O'Connor doesn't buy into part-time Christianity, writes columnist Effie Caldarola. In O'Connor's novels she focused on the mystery of the Incarnation. Accepting Jesus was a matter of life or death, not a Sunday morning nicety.
Talk about accountability — it’s time for business ethics
The recent $13 billion JPMorgan Chase settlement has Jesuit Father William Byron thinking about ethical conversations. And a good place to start is a report that says the 2008 financial crisis was avoidable: it was the result of human actions, inactions and misjudgments, and warning signs were ignored.
NCYC shows young people are eager to embrace their faith
There were hugs, handshakes and high fives shared throughout the weekend. Lots of them. When you're among 23,000 of your peers having the time of your life, teenagers do that kind of thing.
Report: Sexualization of girls distorts childhood and society
A report said "sexualization and objectification undermine confidence in and comfort with one's own body, leading to a host of negative emotional consequences, such as shame, anxiety, and even self-disgust." Is the situation hopeless? Difficult, yes, but a report from the American Psychological Association suggested several ways to counter the influence of sexualization as seen especially on television.
The war on the poor, and agents of relief
On the front lines of this war, defending the poor, is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. As regular as turkey and football on Thanksgiving, this time of year brings criticism of that agency for doing what the church should be about.
JFK anniversary inspires memories, sadness and regret
The anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination leaves me saddened on many levels. Like other Americans who were alive at the time, I keenly remember how devastated the country was. Looking back, I see how the young JFK was growing in his presidency and imagine what he might have accomplished.
‘Tis the season to calm down
The days of Thanksgiving and Christmas are crucial for we who desire to be better, do better and reflect all the good that God has given us. We are celebrating a marvelous gift, one given freely, with complete love. Simply put, if we take the holidays too seriously, we will seriously miss the point.
Breaking the silence between parents and teenagers
A movement that originated in the Philadelphia area a few years ago called "Speak Up!" aims to summon teenagers out of emotional separation from their parents and create a welcoming environment where youngsters can be heard by parents.