When tragedy strikes, as it did last week in Boston, many of us turn instinctively to hold and squeeze those closest to us. We feel sympathy and empathy for those afflicted by the loss of their dearest loved ones, and it reminds us to treasure those we love and to unabashedly express our affection. We… Read More Love and Loss
Have you blinked yet? More stunning news from Rome. The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis the Radical will appoint women to key leadership posts in the Roman Curia. These comments from papal spokesman Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ follow public statements made by Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras saying he was backing more posts… Read More Vatican confirms that Pope Francis will appoint women to key positions
More big news from Rome today. According to a senior Vatican official, martyred Salvadoran bishop Oscar Romero will soon join the Church’s official canon of saints. During a homily yesterday, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia–who is in charge of Romero’s cause for canonization–announced that Pope Francis had “unblocked” Romero’s path to sainthood. Romero’s cause for canonization had… Read More Vatican official: Romero’s canonization ‘unblocked’ by Pope Francis
In the Gospels, Jesus tells his disciples that where their treasure is, so too will their hearts be. Pope Francis evidently got the memo. After personally conducting a thorough spending review, Francis has decided to cancel scheduled 25,000€ yearly bonuses for the five cardinal-commissioners of the Vatican bank. He also has asked the 4000 Vatican… Read More Pope Francis cutting cardinals’ pay, will give extra money to charity
Sometimes events happen that are so beyond our scope of understanding that we become frozen. At work, all we can do is stream a live-feed of the events unfolding, ignoring work that should be done. We text and call friends living in the area of the incidents just to feel connected, to feel as though… Read More When it’s Hardest to Pray, we Must
Last evening, a disgusted President Obama stood with parents who lost children in the Newtown tragedy and said: “All in all, today was a pretty shameful day for Washington.” Shameful. He’s absolutely right, and the absurdity couldn’t be clearer. A minority of senators blocked legislation that would have made our country safer and better protected our children.… Read More Minority of Senators Win Vote to Promote the Culture of Death
As the tragedy in Boston unfolded Monday, it felt close and far away at the same time. Close because of photos and cell-phone videos and Facebook posts from friends who were nearby when the bombs exploded. (“I’m safe. Thank you for the prayers. Keep praying.”) Far away because, well, Boston is a six-hour drive from… Read More Tragedy in Boston: How We Can Respond From Distant Places
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