Pope Francis has sent a powerful letter to the participants of the US Regional World Meeting of Popular Movements. Here are some highlights: For some time, the crisis of the prevailing paradigm has confronted us. I am speaking of a system that causes enormous suffering to the human family, simultaneously assaulting people’s dignity and our… Read More “The Gutting of Democracies is Real”: Pope Francis Sends Strong Message to Grassroots Leaders

Shepard Smith of Fox News denounced Donald Trump today for dodging questions about the link between members of his campaign and Russia, saying, “It’s crazy what we’re watching every day.” He emphasized that the American people have a right to know and showed support for the reporters who are demanding answers. Wow watch Shepard Smith’s… Read More Shepard Smith to Trump: Stop “Fake News” Excuse, Answer Russia Questions

Emma Green of The Atlantic says many religious voters feel alienated from the Democratic Party, and she wonders why Democratic leaders haven’t tried harder to reach the broad percentage of Americans who identify as religious:

via Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ: For me, the teachings of the Catholic Church are as clear as God’s commands to the people of Israel in Hebrew Scriptures: We are called to welcome widows, orphans, the poor and migrants. Sadly, these explicit instructions are as needed today as they were thousands of years ago. Nativism and… Read More Build Bridges Not Walls, Stop Tearing Families Apart

While some are downplaying the relationship between Steve Bannon and other prominent Catholic reactionaries, no one is denying that a certain brand of reactionary Catholicism shapes his worldview. But it is equally clear how divorced his populist nationalism is not just from Pope Francis’ worldview, but from Catholic orthodoxy itself. A number of recent articles… Read More Steve Bannon is as Bad as You Think He is

via CNN: Embattled White House national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday night, two sources tell CNN. His departure came just after reports surfaced the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that Flynn misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail… Read More Michael Flynn Resigns, Need for Independent Investigation Remains