Opinion
Contraception works against marital act
By Father Tad Pacholczyk Married Catholics today often struggle to understand the moral difference between using contraceptives to avoid a pregnancy and using natural family planning (NFP). NFP relies on sexual abstinence during fertile periods in a woman’s cycle, as assessed by various indicators like cervical mucus or changes in body temperature. To many, the […]
Catholic outreach: A point of pride
What would you call a social services agency that last year spent $52 million on youth, or housed 2,800 clients with the most severe needs in its residences, or spent almost $15 million on families and inspaniduals in communities across the five-county Philadelphia region? You could call it “ours.” Every Catholic in the Archdiocese of […]
Fond memories of Blessed John Paul II
Msgr. Michael K. MageeThe Challenge of Jesus Today This year the Second Sunday of Easter – spanine Mercy Sunday – marked a milestone in my own life and in the lives of many others, some of whom will probably be reading this column. Among the members of the faithful who are recognized by the Church […]
Vatican report shows risks of global warming
Among many people, the issue of climate change remains something of an article of faith. “Do you believe in climate change?” is the question often asked in conversation regarding the topic. Scientific reports continue to indicate that the climate of planet Earth is indeed changing. A January report by an office of NASA said 2010 […]
Parents and the school of virtue
By John Garvey A couple of years ago, the Journal of Experimental Psychology published a study of Canadian air traffic controllers that compared the performance of older and younger workers. Predictably, it found that the older ones had slower reaction times, poorer memories and diminished perceptual and motor skills. But when presented with complicated air […]
Safeguards in a technological age
Wherever people go today, cell phones seem always close at hand. At a ballgame, walking down a street, sitting in the home or even, as ring tones during a homily attest, in a church. People love their cell phones. A Pew Research Center report this year pegged cell phone ownership among adults (18 and over) […]
Hundreds attend rally at state capitol for school choice
By A. B. Hill Undeterred by the clouds and raindrops, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and other school choice supporters gathered in front of the state Capitol on April 12 to hoot, holler and cheer for Senate Bill 1 – the Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act. This was the second big rally […]
A holy week prayer
The Lent of 2011 has been like no other in memory for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The crisis that exploded in February preceded the start of Lent by a matter of days. Throughout these 40 days of Lent, at least judging by the comments received by The Catholic Standard & Times, the faithful Catholics of […]
School choice legislation will benefit thousands of Catholic school families
By A. B. Hill In coffee shops and around water coolers, Pennsylvanians everywhere are talking about it – school choice and Senate Bill 1 – the Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act. SB 1 does two things: increases the successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship program and provides Opportunity Scholarship Grants, or […]
Facts in hands
In the nine weeks since the well-known Philadelphia grand jury report on sexual abuse of children by some clergy, a torrent of statements and responses has swept over this region. Even so, some people may have overlooked the concrete steps the Archdiocese has taken to help victims of abuse, protect children from harm and strengthen […]