In his 2008 visit to the Catholic University of America, Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke about the essential role that Catholic schools play in the life of the Church and in the life of our country. He said: “Countless dedicated religious sisters, brothers, and priests together with selfless parents have, through Catholic schools, helped generations of immigrants […]
Editorials
Watching the World Burn
Christopher Nolan’s 2008 masterful film, “The Dark Knight,” features a particularly insightful piece of dialogue, especially in light of the tragedy we had witnessed this past week in Paris. Bruce Wayne: Criminals aren’t complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he’s after. Alfred Pennyworth: With respect, Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man that […]
Saints for New Year
The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate this coming Sunday, affords us all an opportunity to reflect on our own vocations and, in a particular way, the vocation to priesthood and religious life. In this year dedicated by Pope Francis to appreciating the gift of consecrated life, perhaps it might be […]
The Cuomo Dilemma
This past Tuesday New Yorkers said farewell to Governor Mario Cuomo. Thrice elected Governor of New York Mario Cuomo was a complicated man. To some, he was a hero and to others, a villain. According to his own testimony, his Roman Catholic faith left a profound mark on his thinking and the way he lived […]
‘Annus Horribilis’
Our city, and indeed the nation, is reeling from the assassinations of two New York City police officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. These two officers of the law, both married, with the 40-year-old Ramos having two sons and Liu being recently married, were gunned down for no reason other than the fact that they […]
Light in the Darkness
This has been quite the year for violence in the world. Just looking at the past six months, we have seen the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East and the barbarism that has resulted from its insane campaign to spread its hatred throughout the world. We have witnessed their war on Christians […]
Questions of Advent
Many homilies at this time of year could be titled “Don’t forget Advent!” Yes, in our mad rush to prepare for Christmas, this liturgical season is too often passed over and forgotten. It’s important for us to see Advent as a preparation for us to commemorate the birth of Christ into history. That aspect is […]
Everyone Matters
Once again, we were reminded this past week that we live in a fallen world. The Eric Garner case is, simply put, a tragedy. Whenever anyone loses his or her life in an act of violence, it is a tragedy. It doesn’t matter that Garner is older or younger, black or white, what matters is […]
Continuity of Papacy
Robert B Kaiser, a commentator on the Second Vatican Council, in his book, “Pope, Council, and World: The Story of Vatican II,” quotes the famous American Roman Catholic systematic theologian, Father John Courtney Murray, S.J., concerning Pope Saint John XXIII: “He (John XXIII) raised some questions himself – notably, the great, sprawling, ecumenical question – […]
Violence Begets Violence
The ugly scene of racially-motivated violence once again has rocked the nation. This time, it followed a Grand Jury decision in Missouri not to indict a white police officer who killed a black teen in the line of duty. Despite pleas from the victim’s family as well as from the president of the U.S. to […]