Commentaries
An attitude of gratitude
The second eucharistic prayer of the Mass says it is "right and just ... always and everywhere" to give God thanks. And why not live in a state of thankfulness, writes Jesuit Father William Byron?
Now playing in the theater of the absurd: the death penalty
Consider if you will, asks columnist Steve Kent, some recent bizarre examples of how the death penalty is applied by several states.
The benefits of a first job yield more than extra cash
Columnist Karen Osborne's first jobs as a teenager may have been gross at times, but she learned a lot. Standing behind a cash register even made her a better person.
Care for the immigrant, fix the broken system
Father Gus Puleo sees the link between Pope Francis’ visit to a Mediterranean immigration port last year and yesterday’s Mass at an Arizona border crossing. Both events underscore the moral duty to avoid indifference to human suffering, and for just immigration reform.
End the stalemate on immigration reform
Columnist Steve Kent uses the story of a desert town running out of water -- everyone has acknowledged the problem and the solutions for decades but can't come to an agreement -- as a parallel to inaction over federal immigration reform.
Making the choice for joy, despite life’s ups and downs
A woman wrote columnist Father John Catoir about his column on joy. She hadn't been feeling joyful. After reading his column and a book by Thomas Merton, and despite loneliness and emotional pain, she decided to be a happy, joyful person anyway.
Balance of power in government is eroding
Columnist John Garvey cites examples of the executive branch acting without legislative consent or ignoring a statutory command. When that happens we run the risk of arbitrary rule and of losing government by the people.
‘When in Rome …’ you go to church
Our correspondent in Rome is helping with the visit of the Philadelphia delegation – including Archbishop Chaput, Governor Corbett and Mayor Nutter -- to officials planning the 2015 World Meeting of Families. She discovers the job is not just work, it’s a spiritual pilgrimage.
The downsides to an easier SAT
The new SAT will have no penalty for a wrong answer, no "difficult" vocabulary words, no essay writing -- and no challenge to thinking, writes columnist Steve Kent. He questions the drive to lower the bar, de-emphasize thinking and abandon perfectly good words.
The Catholic parish in the 21st century
Jesuit Father William Byron reflects on the 10th anniversary of Villanova University's Center for Church Management and Business Ethics, and a seminar on parish life for the occasion. Considering how parishes can revitalize, he cautions that without deeper understanding of the Eucharist, we could wind up with mega-parishes and malnourished parishioners.