Commentaries
Sex abuse and the coming synod on young people
In the presynod document, young people wrote they are ready to lead. At the synod next month in Rome, the bishops should ask their young counterparts for some timely help, writes Elise Italiano.
From a summer of shame to a fall of leadership
This autumn the church has three opportunities for strong leadership, argues an editorial: investigate the Archbishop McCarrick scandal, open the USCCB meeting to the public and insist on new safeguarding structures.
Land of the Vikings reflects Catholic Europe’s past and future
For the past 500 years, Catholicism has made little impression on Sweden, now Lutheran and ardently secular. Despite small signs of change, Greg Erlandson wonders whether adversity will cause a rebirth of faith on the continent.
Helping a spouse to confront a drinking problem
A wife's increased use of wine to relax calls for loving intervention, write Deacon Paul and Helen McBlain. Letting her know how her drinking affects the family can begin the process of healing.
Sports, like religion, plays out human meaning and divine mystery
From baseball to football to golf, for sports fans in Philadelphia it's the best two months of the year, writes Father Tom Dailey. The games we play or watch can connect us to higher virtues, to each other and to God.
In church’s blistering summer, signs of a rebuilding church
We cannot lose sight of many signs of coming renewal, both among clergy and laity, rising even now from the ashes of an era that is ending, writes Father Eric Banecker.
Shrinking to holiness: One Catholic’s view of the present crisis
A parishioner from Berwyn, Chester County responds to the clergy sex abuse scandal by pointing to the privilege of power in large archdioceses and the laity's failure to hold leaders accountable.
Let’s be clear on ‘reparation’ for clerical sexual abuse
Calls for prayer at this moment of crisis are wise, writes CatholicPhilly.com editor Matthew Gambino. Yet the words of invitation must be sensitive to the anger of the innocent, both clergy and lay.
A psalm for sexual abuse
In all the reactions over the current crisis, let's not forget to listen, as God does in Psalm 88, to the heartfelt cry of the victims of sexual abuse, writes abuse survivor Gina Christian.
Leaving the church is not the answer to clerical scandals
The sexual abuse crisis requires us to reexamine the nature of the church, writes Jessica Carney. While many clerical leaders have failed, our faith and devotion are centered on Christ, our true foundation.