For thirty seconds, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were silent in St. Peter’s Square at the request of the newly elected Pope Francis. It was a stunning move by a man whose ascension to the papacy has shocked an institution that has seen it all. But if you knew anything about Jorge Maria Bergoglio’s religious… Read More The silence at the heart of Pope Francis’s Jesuit identity
Michael Sean Winters of National Catholic Reporter, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies (where I am also a fellow), has a nice piece in the The Daily Beast, where he discusses three groups of Catholics operating in contemporary American politics: old-style Democratic politicians, a new breed of Catholic Republicans, and… Read More MSW on Politically Homeless Catholics
Is there a war on women? As much as it pains me to say, it is very difficult to conclude that women and girls are not under attack in the United States of America in 2013. Upon graduation, 1 in 4 women will have been a victim of sexual assault. And if by chance they… Read More What about the “Promising Future” of Rape Victims?
Sometimes the media misses the elephant in the room, and this is clearly one of those occasions. Buried within several news reports is the stunning revelation that Pope Francis, then Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, may have quietly backed gay civil unions as an alternative to the gay marriage law that passed in Argentina in July 2010.… Read More Breaking News: Records Show Pope Francis Supported Gay Unions (UPDATED)
It is not unusual to hear Catholic political commentators say that the Church is above politics, that its teachings transcend the labels and descriptions that define our politics. In articles, commentaries and discussions, a person will inevitably encounter this caveat. Whether on torture, the HHS mandate or immigration, these figures contend they are merely applying… Read More Why it’s OK to be a Liberal Catholic or Conservative Catholic
The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI produced an incredible array of responses from Catholics, Christians, and non-Christians all around the world. After the initial shock (and sadness, appreciation, and/or bewilderment) wore off, the pope’s decision was described in a variety of ways, from admirable to destabilizing, cowardly to the epitome of humility. The only things… Read More Let Us Pray
Habemus Papam! And this new Pope we have is one who hails from the developing world, took public transportation to work, decided to live in a small apartment in Buenos Aires instead of the Archdiocesan palace, and cooked his own meals. A Pope who, when he was made a Cardinal, asked people from Argentina not… Read More Pope Francis I (Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio) Stands With the Poor: Quotes on Justice
