The Biases of a Royal Commission

A brief dip into Latin helps us understand how preconceptions can lead to biased judgments that falsify history — as they did when an Australian Royal Commission on sexual abuse recently impugned the integrity of Cardinal George Pell. 

He Knows our Unworthiness and Loves us Anyway

Before receiving communion, as the host is elevated and the priests invite us to, “Behold the Lamb of God,” we utter the simple prayer, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” He knows our unworthiness, but we have to acknowledge it ourselves to appreciate the gift we are about to receive.

New Book, ‘This Is Not Forever,’ Explains Coronavirus to Children

By Emily Drooby BAY RIDGE — Heading outdoors to play with their children used to be something the Meehan family did without any thought at all. Now, they all wear masks as they play outside their Bay Ridge, Brooklyn home — just one of many obvious effects of the pandemic. It is also one example […]

Catholics In Queens Fighting Racism With the Help of Their Church

by Emily Drooby ROSEDALE — Matthew Campbell says the sin of racism forces him to always be on guard. “Every time I go to the park, it’s hard knowing you might not come home that night,” he explained. Campbell, who is a long-time parishioner of St. Clare Church in Rosedale, Queens, and his mom, Althea, are […]

How One Student Found Faith in The Classroom and Became a Valedictorian

  by Emily Drooby MANHATTAN — Like many children across the country, Samantha Chan has been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic — having to learn from home and missing out on typical school events — but with one added hurdle. The St. Peter Catholic Academy student’s mother is a nurse working on […]

The Faith of an Unbeliever

In the last two columns, motivated by an interesting essay on Kierkegaard in the March 18 issue of the Jesuit weekly America, I commented on the philosophy of the Danish existentialist Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855).

Golden Jubilee: A Time for Reflection and Celebration

Jubilees in religious and priestly life mark significant milestones that certainly need to be celebrated. This year because of the coronavirus, unfortunately, our celebrations have been personal and rather muted.