Commentaries
Rebranding of Christianity for the poor, not middle class
Columnist Steve Kent notices that Pope Francis keeps speaking about the need to respond to the poor, even if some want him instead to speak about the struggling middle class. They'll have a long wait, Kent suggests.
Where have all the kind people gone?
Before you join the ranks of rude and nasty people because you feel testy and annoyed, Karen Osbourne suggests three ways to lighten up and be nice.
The pope said what? Match the pope to the quote, get a surprise
Some observers, like columnist Terry Mattingly, see an insidious attempt to paint Pope Francis as a radical progressive, when he in actuality he joins recent popes in emphasizing human rights.
St. John Paul II quickly became leading teacher of family life
Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield, an expert on the saintly pope’s teaching on human sexuality and families, recalls how fast his Theology of the Body spread from a weekly message in Rome to parish study groups worldwide.
Hope in things unseen, or unspoken
While teaching a course on virtue, John Garvey is thinking about hope, mindfulness and grace in a time when it's unfashionable to speak publicly of spirituality.
A possible answer about why we suffer
Why do loved ones, like priest columnist Father Eugene Hemrick's brother, suffer terribly before they die? One reason might be that it brings the best out of those who are well.
The art of the apology
Columnist Steve Kent noticed a good week for apologies recently. They ranged from good apologies by the pope and the president of General Motors to a poor one from a cable television spokesman.
Pope’s video captures a 7-minute ‘catholic’ moment
If St. Francis were tweeting from the terra-cotta rooftops of Assisi today, he might avert his eyes briefly from the sparrows and the azure sky to tap out this message with both thumbs: "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use an iPhone 5s, if necessary."
Blessed are the peacemakers
On Good Friday, we recall the violation, mutilation and crucifixion inflicted on Christ. Sadly, such acts continue today. Carolyn Woo, head of Catholic Relief Services, knows Christ promised peace, but we're called to do our part.
Healing the moral wounds of our warriors
Once a soldier can kill another person and feel nothing, he wonders, "What is morally right anymore?" An editorial urges national leaders to seriously examine the act of war itself and remember its long-term effects. For combat soldiers, the church offers healing.