Like many Catholics, I have family on my mind nowadays. These are exciting times with the Pope’s recent trip to the U.S. in the run-up to next month’s Synod on the Family. With its focus on family issues—like cohabitation, contraception, same sex marriage, divorce, and annulment—last year’s synod stirred up plenty of emotions and controversy.… Read More The Power of Being Named
A few years ago, a video of Father Clete Kiley, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, went viral. His passionate, stirring defense of labor unions and economic justice, together with his honesty and moral clarity on the inadequacies of the status quo struck a chord with believers and non-believers alike. And his vision… Read More Why Workers and Unions Matter: An Interview with Father Clete Kiley
7:15 in the morning, leaving in a hurry for work, I recite a prayer before exiting my house because there’s no certainty that I’ll return. I say good morning to neighbors while walking, thinking of my agenda for the day. Down the road, I see Carlos, sitting on his porch. He’s wearing a yellow swimsuit… Read More Before Noon: Life and Death in a Throwaway Culture
“Is there a doctor who you look to as a role model? Someone in whose footsteps you could see yourself following?” I remember my friend asking me this question on a hot, dry night in southern Africa, where we were studying abroad together. I probed the depths of my mind and could come up with… Read More Why Bernard Nathanson Inspires Me
When it comes to politics, our society is often divided between those who emphasize personal responsibility and those who emphasize our social responsibilities. The former often focus on the cultural factors that tear families apart, while the latter highlight the economic threats faced by families. Within the Church these divisions are seen in the rivalry… Read More How the Church’s Both/And Approach Can Close the Opportunity Gap and Reduce Poverty
There was a point in my life when I thought I wanted to be a Buddhist. Disillusioned with the strict dogma and old-fashioned views of Catholicism, I began to look elsewhere for my religious fulfillment. I had heard through multiple friends about the benefits of meditation, and once I started to meditate I began to… Read More Catholicism: A Story of Identity
As a parish pastoral associate , one of my favorite “ice-breaker” questions for small groups is: “What has been your most profound experience of Liturgy?” The answers are usually quite revealing, ranging from wedding Masses to funeral Liturgies to “mega-Masses” like those at World Youth Day. My answer, however, is always the same: my most… Read More Liturgy and Perfection
Millennial 