Commentaries
Disturbing images motivate volunteers, and could change church
As powerful as is the written word, digital imaging is now equal to and often surpassing it: an advanced art and skill for making church progress, writes Father Eugene Hemrick.
A layperson to church leaders: You have let us down!
Carolyn Woo urges all lay Catholics to rise up for what needs to be done: to build a more faithful church and inclusive community. She suggests a renewed focus on victims and church governance.
3 ways to talk at home about the outrage of sex abuse
Laura Kelly Fanuccci suggests spouses talk another about the scandals they're reading about; talk with kids appropriately; and keep talking -- don't choose the easy way out and avoid what is difficult to say or do.
We’re wandering the desert of sex abuse, nearly 2 decades later
Like the ancient Israelites in the desert for 40 years, the church is paying the price for leaders who trusted their own desires rather than God. We must turn from pride, fear, ignoring reality and protecting ourselves or the church.
Sex abuse, clericalism and laity’s role in fixing them
Laypeople, called to holiness, are needed to encourage good priests and bishops, and help reform dangerous attitudes and policies so the Gospel will continue to be a light to the nations, writes Richard Doerflinger.
In these dark days, our hope remains in the Lord
The church Greg Erlandson loves is hurting. Some people are making ideological points off of the pain of our church family, targeting those they already disliked and pitting people against one another.
Crisis may only be beginning, but God keeps his covenant
It’s going to be very hard, but we need to support each other and help put the church back together, says Deacon Christopher Roberts. He explains why he is still fighting to build something beautiful for God.
Graced by artificial intelligence?
It's uncanny how an ad on a website appears for things we're thinking about, writes Brett Robinson. We seem to be known by Alexa or Siri but we are known, and loved, by God and the Blessed Mother.
Despite abuse and cover up, I still want to be a Catholic priest
A young deacon and Army reservist saw how the Army changed its culture of sexual harassment. The church can too -- by uniting with the church's founder Jesus Christ, the priest and victim.
Homily for a church betrayed
It's past time the church not only listen to women, but for women to help shape the future, says a priest homilist in Louisville. If the wisdom of women had as much power in the church as the voice of men, we would not have the culture that handed over the holy to shield predators.