Commentaries
‘Dreamers’ reveal nightmare of broken immigration system
Youth with DACA status are Americans in all but legal status, writes Father Gus Puleo. The federal government's inability to grant them citizenship reflects a crisis in immigration law and political partisanship.
Why are we so lucky? Take a look in the family mirror
The great-grandfather of writer Effie Caldarola overcame a political climate that denigrated the Irish whose country had become unlivable and wretched. She owes him a debt of gratitude and sees a lesson for today.
How can the church support young people during the ‘defining decade’?
The shift to "delayed adulthood" in the U.S. means that pastoral approaches to youth need to be rethought, writes Jonathan Lewis. More than ever, parishes should closely accompany young adults through their 20s to enable them to discern God's will for their lives.
About praising famous men
A new book about Ulysses S. Grant shows him as both hero and flawed man with impressive virtues. That is the best we can hope from the people we praise, writes John Garvey, as we weigh the evidence.
Assisted suicide: It’s about all of us
"Terminal diseases" like depression, lack of wealth and old age can lead to a quick death under Oregon's physician assisted suicide law, writes Richard Doerflinger. That is why it's a matter of justice for all of society.
The imperative of educating Hispanic children in Catholic schools
There are 14.6 million school-age Catholic children in the U.S., of whom 8 million are Hispanic. Because they will help define the present and the future of Catholicism here, writes Hosffman Ospino, we cannot lose them.
Caring for ‘the other America’
The 2016 election attracted much attention to the residents of small towns and rural areas between the crowded coastal states and media centers. Greg Erlandson knows the deep Catholic roots in these communities, and their suffering.
Greatest gift to the homeless: Making them feel significant
The hard work of restoring a homeless person's sense of self-worth means trying to repair years of mental chaos. But we can all do our part, writes Father Eugene Hemrick, by stopping to talk to the person.
Recharge your batteries before entering ‘ordinary time’
Maureen Pratt suggests that folding quality exercise, fellowship and spiritual pursuits into our days will be much more rejuvenating than the quantitative approach we employ during a jam-packed holiday season.
Do not fuel culture of the shocking
You Tube can offer tasteful music, tutorials and positive role models, but it can also show exploitative and unethical content, writes Maria-Pia Negro Chin. She urges users to share only the positive.