Since last month’s Synod on the Family propelled the lesbian and gay community into the spotlight and sparked conversation about their role in the Catholic Church, there is no better time to be talking about what invaluable gifts they bring to the Church. The Relatio attracted both applause and controversy after positive language (like “gifts… Read More The Saint of 9/11 and the “Gifts and Qualities” of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Catholics

Ten months ago, I would not have considered myself a “runner.” I have an athletic build and I played soccer for 15 years (my calves and quads are a bit bigger than I would prefer), but I never liked to just run and certainly not long distances. People often ask, “Do you run?” when I… Read More Running the Race and Keeping the Faith

Pop princess. Country star. Teen idol. Liturgical theologian. Three of those four titles are typically applied to the queen of the charts, Taylor Swift, who is dominating the media in anticipation of her new album, 1989. Yet, in my experience at her concert, I came to see Taylor in a new light. Given that the… Read More Taylor Swift: The Next Great Theologian?

As anyone who reads New York Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat on a regular basis can tell you, he is one of the stronger, more genuine Catholics that can be found in the world of punditry. He has dedicated countless hours to providing his extraordinary insight about the Catholic Church, modern day heresy, and the… Read More Douthat’s Concession: The Separation of Church and Punditry?