The phrase “social justice” tends to trigger a wide range of responses depending on where one lands on the political spectrum. For some, it’s a pejorative. For others, a badge of honor. Either way, from a secular perspective, social justice is often viewed through the prism of partisan politics. But for Catholics, it’s something much… Read More Stop the Excuses: Working for Social Justice is Not Optional for Catholics
This post began as a “top 5 shockingly immoral aspects of President Trump’s budget proposal.” The problem is that virtually the entire budget is shockingly immoral and unjust. Instead, I want to highlight 5 touchstones of Catholic Social Teaching on justice. I will provide one example of its violation; however, for every single one, you… Read More How Trump’s “America First” Budget Violates 5 Key Justice Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
For the better part of a decade, the healthcare debate has been at the center of American political discourse—thanks largely to the signing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In both the 2012 and 2016 presidential races, the debate on whether to repeal or expand the ACA was a major component of each candidate’s platform—leading… Read More The Right To Healthcare Is Owed, Not Earned
Who is the refugee? Who do I recognize myself to be when confronted with the refugee? How does the politicization of refugees hurt and help them? What responsibility do faith communities have to respond to this crisis? What concretely can we do to respond? These are a few of the burning questions tackled earlier this… Read More Hope and Wisdom Prevail at Princeton Conference on Forced Migration
Republican Congressman John Shimkus expressed opposition yesterday to the mandate in the Affordable Care Act that healthcare plans must cover prenatal care. He argued that men should not have to contribute to the healthcare of pregnant women and their unborn children. Instead, he expressed his support for Americans choosing health insurance plans where coverage is… Read More Republicans Shouldn’t Take Prenatal Care Guarantees from Pregnant Women
“Rend your hearts, not your garments!” These are the challenging words of the prophet Joel that greeted Christians in churches around the world as they marked the beginning of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. Lent—too domesticated over time—is a radical ancient invitation to reject the globalization of superficiality that too often sullies our… Read More Rend Your Hearts, Not Your Garments
At the beginning of each semester, I introduce my students to modern Catholic social teaching by emphasizing its dialogue with a changing world. We often start with Rerum Novarum, which was a moral reflection and response to a particular historical context in the wake of the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of new working conditions.… Read More See, Judge, Act: Racism, Structural Sin, and Infant Mortality
Millennial 