I’m neither a conservative nor a Republican. But as a citizen, I believe that the United States would benefit from having a better Republican Party and conservative movement—one more committed to human dignity and the common good. Our system does not function well with divided government and extreme polarization. The ideological purification of both parties… Read More David Brooks’ New Traditionalism and a Better GOP
It seems appropriate to lead off this series of reflections with something that is at once one of the greatest blessings in most of our lives and one of the easiest to take for granted—one’s home. If you are at home as you read this, take a quick glance around you. (If not, you can… Read More Renewing Gratitude: Having a Home
Following last night’s defeat in the Indiana primary, Ted Cruz has officially ended his 2016 presidential campaign. And even though Sanders beat out Clinton in the Hoosier state, his Democratic opponent appears to be on a clear path to securing her party’s nomination. It would seem that we are finally nearing the (welcome) end to… Read More Our Candidates, Ourselves
I received my copy of The Catholic Catalogue by Melissa Musick and Anna Keating on Fat Tuesday. Earlier in the day I googled “shrove” to see why it is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday. I didn’t realize that I would have the field guide to such questions in my hands a few hours later.… Read More The Catholic Catalogue: Living a Catholic Life in the 21st Century
A recent article published in Crux laments what the author considers a lack of adequate attention given to the Catholic Church in centenary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, Ireland. In spite of the presence of the Head Chaplain for the Irish Defense Forces during the centenary celebrations, a planned centenary Requiem Mass… Read More The Easter Rising at 100: What Role Did the Church Play?
On April 1, 2016, thirty Catholic institutions and ten other faith-based organizations filed an amicus curiae in support of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The Clean Power Plan is the EPA’s proposed restriction on carbon pollution that has been stayed by the US Supreme Court in response to legal challenges by industry and Republican attorneys… Read More Catholic Support for the Clean Power Plan
A historic conference recently wrapped up at the Vatican that addressed the continued relevance of the traditional Catholic doctrine of just war theory. Just war theory outlines the moral requirements surrounding the decision to use force and the ethical limits on using force justly. The decision to use force requires a just cause, right intention,… Read More Replace Just War Theory with Nonviolence—What about Syria and Genocide?
Millennial 