Last week, President Obama at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast said that Islam as a religion cannot be blamed for the terror perpetrated by ISIL. In his talk, he claimed that Christianity has a checkered past of committing violence in the name of religion.
Editorials
Understanding the Pope
It has been suggested that Catholic newspapers spend too much time interpreting the words of the Holy Father, explaining away his thought so that it coincides more with traditional Catholic teaching. It has been suggested that perhaps the Catholic Press should just let the words stand as they are.
Need for Good Homilies
It’s no secret that one of the biggest complaints which is lodged against our priests is a perceived poor quality of homiletic skill. This is, at times, compounded with the comment: “Father preaches so long and then realizes the time and rushes through the rest of the Mass.” We are proud of our priests. The […]
Concrete Kindness
The Vatican has announced that, in addition to the new showers being built under the colonnade at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City State, barbers in Rome on Mondays (the traditional day off for barbers) will begin offering haircuts and shaves for the homeless and those in need. Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, will be in charge of the project, which is set to begin on Feb. 18.
Understanding Pope
Pope Francis gave another one of his airplane press conferences on his return to Rome from Manila. And, once again, the words uttered by Pope Francis had the world listening and people of all sorts of perspectives taking his words out of the context in which he spoke them.
Keep Your Word, Gov!
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 […]
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 […]