Commentaries
Stretching your mind while hitting the road
Maureen Pratt suggests families take a road trip together this summer, for the adventure of it, for the time for long talks and for noticing things we often miss in our busy days.
The family isn’t obsolete
The Hobby Lobby court decision is just one example of the enduring power of family, writes Stephen Kent. One way to keep the family strong, he believes, is to make family dinners together a priority.
Finding inspiration, not envy, on social media
Finding the healthy balance between alone time and doing things with friends can be a challenge for today's teens, writes Erick Rommel. That's because they are constantly seeing what other people are doing at every moment, thanks to social media.
Crisis in U.S. result of Central American desperation
Violence in Central America and the lack of jobs and education are why thousands of parents are sending their children north in the belief they would be safer in the U.S. A guest editorial argues that U.S. funds should address the migration's root causes, not its symptoms.
A guide on how to believe
A recently published document by the Vatican deserves everyone's attention, not just that of theologians, writes Stephen Kent. The practical tome on "spiritual instinct" can be useful as sincere Catholics wrestle with today's questions.
A letter from the past, a lesson for the present
Karen Osborne unearths a letter from her 16-year-old self to her 30-year-old self and finds that life happened while she was busy making plans for something else.
Is God a cop or a midwife? Good question
Columnist Effie Caldarola reflects on her relationship with God -- as the rule enforcer or the guide toward new life -- and what it means for how she lives her life.
On decriminalizing marijuana in Philadelphia
Physicians and the pope are reminding us that marijuana is an evil to be rejected, and Jesuit Father William Byron reminds the City of Philadelphia that a proposed law allowing marijuana use should likewise be rejected.
Spouses trying to find that feeling again
Deacon Paul and Helen McBlain know that even after a few years of marriage, a couple may notice “something is missing,” and they need help to invigorate their relationship. It can be harder for those in a second marriage and their blended families.
Clearing the air around marijuana use
Father Tad Pacholczyk sees the damage done from marijuana use. It's critical to acknowledge these negative effects on people rather than seeking, like drug addicts, to dissociate ourselves from this reality.