MSW writes: Preeminent: Adj. surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way. This adjective was the focus of two debates at the heart of last week’s bishops’ conference plenary. It was added to the text of a new letter that will supplement the bishops’ quadrennial, and apparently irrevocable, statement about elections, “Forming Consciences for Faithful… Read More Are The US Bishops Trying to Help Trump Win Reelection?

Brian Fraga writes: “But, abortion!” has become sort of a tongue-in-cheek retort in some Catholic circles to refer to arguments when the right to life is seemingly used by people to downplay or dismiss other important principles in the Church’s social teaching, such as the preferential option for the poor, caring for creation, welcoming the… Read More Why “But, Abortion!” is No Excuse for Ignoring Moral Imperatives

via CNS: At a time when “situations of injustice and human pain” seem to be growing around the globe, Christians are called to “accompany the victims, to see in their faces the face of our crucified Lord,” Pope Francis said…. Listing examples of places where Catholics are called to work for justice and for the… Read More Pope Francis on the Throwaway Culture of Selfish Nationalism, Inequality, Environmental Degradation, Structural Poverty

via Reuters: Pope Francis hosted 1,500 homeless and needy people for lunch on Sunday as the Roman Catholic Church marked its World Day of the Poor. The menu for all in the Vatican’s large audience hall, including the pope, was lasagna, chicken in cream of mushroom sauce, potatoes, sweets, fruit, and coffee… Francis established the… Read More Pope Hosts Meal with 1,500 Needy People on World Day of the Poor

Millennial writer Meghan Clark writes: A Mary who radically accompanies the oppressed, marginalized, and vulnerable is most clearly represented in the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. “Guadalupe,” as theologian Nichole Flores notes, “comforts those on the margins of society even as she equips them for action.” This tradition has also led to many contextualized… Read More Seeing Mary and Christ in Those on the Margins of Society

In the Middle East, concord and dialogue among the three monotheistic religions is based on spiritual and historic bonds. The Good News of Jesus, risen out of love, came to us from these lands. Today, many Christian communities, together with Jewish and Muslim communities, work here for peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Let us pray that… Read More Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for November 2019: For Dialogue and Reconciliation in the Middle East

Many millennials are disenchanted with the culture around alcohol in the US. But has it caused them to change their drinking habits? This episode of The Idea File from The Atlantic explores the factors that may be causing this cultural backlash and looks at the shift away from alcohol consumption taking place among Generation Z: