by George Weigel WITH HIS NEW book, American Church: The Remarkable Rise, Meteoric Fall, and Uncertain Future of Catholicism in America (Ignatius Press), mild-mannered Russell Shaw has become the bull in the china shop of U.S. Catholic history, knocking heroes off pedestals and overturning conventional story lines – all in aid of trying to understand […]
by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk Resuscitating a patient who undergoes a cardiac arrest or stops breathing often involves multiple procedures. When a resuscitation “Code Blue” is called in the hospital (or on a TV show), something like a medical “flash mob” comes together to try to save the patient. The sequence of events typically involves a […]
by George Weigel It was a brief greeting to former colleagues. But if you read Pope Francis’s April 18 letter to the Argentine bishops’ conference closely, you get a glimpse of the man, his convictions and his vision. First, the man: Jorge Mario Bergoglio has remained very much himself, rather than adopting what some might […]
by Maureen Pratt Much has been said of the historic nature of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign, but I am struck by something much more personal, something that resonates with those of us who are aging. When we approach a certain age, frailties begin to surface and they interfere with the desire to keep […]
by Father William J. Byron, S.J. AS THE WORLD awaited word on who would be elected to succeed Pope Benedict XVI as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, there was much talk about the need for reform and transparency in the Roman Curia – the Church’s central administration – and the virtual impossibility of anyone […]
by Father Eugene F. Hemrick AS FRUITFUL AS our country is and as wonderful as our Church is, there is far too much discontent in both these days. This discontent indicates to us that something essential is missing. What might it be? I believe we are experiencing growing divisions. We often hear, “In unity there […]
by Father William J. Byron, S.J. WHEN THE YEAR OF FAITH opened last October, Pope Benedict XVI invited the whole Church into “a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith.” He later decided to vacate the chair of Peter and now pursues his own journey of reflection and rediscovery. The prayers of the […]
by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk IN MARCH, 2013, the British paper The Independent ran an article entitled, “Children in gay adoptions at no disadvantage: Research confirms same-sex couples are just as good at parenting as heterosexuals.” The article, based on a study at Cambridge University, concluded there was “no evidence” to support the claim that children’s […]
by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk GOVERNOR BOBBY Jindal of Louisiana, in his Dec. 13, 2012 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, argues that the cost of birth control could be reduced by eliminating the required doctor’s visit to get a prescription, or in other words, making contraception available “over the counter.” If it were made available […]
by Kathleen M. Gallagher Abortion is a hot topic at the New York State Capitol these days, which is curious for a couple of reasons. First, the procedure was legalized here in 1970, three years before Roe v. Wade. And while the abortion lobby is declaring the need “to protect women’s freedom to choose,” no […]
