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
I don’t swear very often. As I used to tell my students, I think the use of vulgarity is the sign of a poor vocabulary. I still believe that, but there is also certainly something to be said for Mark Twain’s observation that sometimes “profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” Yesterday was one such… Read More How I Hope to Remember My First Boston Marathon
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston released the following statement: The Archdiocese of Boston joins all people of good will in expressing deep sorrow following the senseless acts of violence perpetrated at the Boston Marathon today. Our prayers and concern are with so many who experienced the trauma of these acts, most especially the loved ones… Read More Cardinal O’Malley Responds to the Boston Marathon Explosions
Last Thursday, President Obama awarded Catholic U.S. Army Chaplain and Korean War hero Father Emil J. Kapaun (a candidate for canonization) the Medal of Honor. The text of the President’s remarks can be read here or viewed below:
I just spent the past hour trying to work my way through Conor Friedersdorf‘s article that appeared this morning in the Atlantic, about the trial (and lack of media coverage) of abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell. I had to step away from the computer several times to either sob or quell my queasiness as I read… Read More When Killing Children Gets Ugly
Basketball has long been my favorite sport, but it is growing increasingly difficult for me to really care about even the most important games because the officiating is so consistently abysmal. The NBA suffered the scandal of referee Tim Donaghy and his gambling crimes. Then Donaghy turned whistleblower and confirmed what most who watch the… Read More Let Them Foul
Over the last month, as talk has returned to budgets and sequesters, deficits and debt, I found myself extremely frustrated every time I began to blog on economic justice – haven’t I already written extensively on the Ryan budget? (and the conversation hasn’t changed). It feels as if we are stuck in the movie Groundhog… Read More An Option that’s not Optional: The Preferential Option for the Poor
Millennial 