Following last night’s defeat in the Indiana primary, Ted Cruz has officially ended his 2016 presidential campaign. And even though Sanders beat out Clinton in the Hoosier state, his Democratic opponent appears to be on a clear path to securing her party’s nomination. It would seem that we are finally nearing the (welcome) end to… Read More Our Candidates, Ourselves
Virgin and martyr. These titles are those that the Church has chosen to sum up the crowning achievements of Saint Agatha, whose feast day we celebrated this past Friday. For anyone who is unfamiliar with Catholic traditions surrounding the veneration of saints, labeling a person according to her sexual habits (or lack thereof) and cause… Read More Women Saints: Virgins, Martyrs…and Mothers
This past Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, which means two things: First, Christians around the world have entered into a month of waiting in joyful expectation for the coming of Christ. Second, people everywhere (including Christians) will soon find themselves especially pressed for time in the midst of the flurry of holiday activity and… Read More An Advent Antidote for the Holiday Rush
Last week, the National Catholic Reporter ran a story about the upcoming elections for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The author of the story paints a picture of the elections as presenting a choice between “Francis bishops” and bishops who might be seen as being more at odds with the pastoral inclinations and priorities… Read More Confusion Within the Church: Satan’s Work or God’s?
Like many Catholics, I have family on my mind nowadays. These are exciting times with the Pope’s recent trip to the U.S. in the run-up to next month’s Synod on the Family. With its focus on family issues—like cohabitation, contraception, same sex marriage, divorce, and annulment—last year’s synod stirred up plenty of emotions and controversy.… Read More The Power of Being Named
This week I watched a disturbing (yet somehow still hilarious) exposé by “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver on food waste in the United States. Here are a few of the figures Oliver presents in order to illustrate the magnitude of the problem: As much as 40% of food produced in the US never gets… Read More John Oliver, Pope Francis, and Jesus on Food: Reflections on Feasting and Famine
When the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case this past Friday, legalizing same-sex marriage across the nation, I was in the midst of a workshop with a group of highly intelligent, dedicated young Catholic teachers. As it has everywhere around the country, this news stirred up considerable conversation. What… Read More Hopes for Justice, Understanding, and Unity in the Wake of Obergefell v. Hodges
Millennial 