No one has been baptized a priest or a bishop. We have all been baptized as lay people. Lay people are protagonists of the Church. Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church. And we must emphasize the feminine lay presence because women tend to… Read More Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for October 2020: More Women in Leadership Roles for the Church

Christopher White writes: One night after President Donald Trump refused to denounce white supremacists in the first presidential debate, former Vice President Joe Biden’s faith outreach team put the fight against racism in the spotlight, arguing that for people of faith, it should be the defining faith issue of the campaign. Fighting racism is “at… Read More Trump’s Failure to Unequivocally Condemn White Supremacy Highlights Threat to Human Dignity

Jeannie Gaffigan writes: Here is my confession: I am a real Catholic, and I am not going to vote for Donald J. Trump…. My faith, family and Catholic education have given me the belief in the innate dignity and worth of every single human being. Human life is sacred, and all humans have equal value.… Read More Jeannie Gaffigan’s Whole Life Case For Voting Out Donald Trump

In his latest encyclical, Pope Francis writes: They lack the physical gestures, facial expressions, moments of silence, body language and even the smells, the trembling of hands, the blushes and perspiration that speak to us and are a part of human communication. Digital relationships, which do not demand the slow and gradual cultivation of friendships,… Read More Pope Francis on the Problem with Social Media and Digital Relationships

Pope Francis: “Dear friends, the world needs saints and we are all called to holiness without exception. Don’t be afraid!”

Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas writes: The presidential election is fast approaching. Elections are a critical way we take an active role shaping the common good. We naturally project our hopes and desires for a resolution to the pains now afflicting our country onto that important moment when we cast our ballot.… Read More Bishop Seitz on the Problem with Single-Issue Voting

Pope Francis (via the Vatican): In these days, our world continues to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to the loss of so many lives. This crisis is changing our way of life, calling into question our economic, health and social systems, and exposing our human fragility. The pandemic, indeed, calls us… Read More Pope at UN: Don’t Retreat into Greater Individualism, Elitism, Nationalism, or Isolationism