Essay

Just before 8 am, on July 30, 2014, I made my way to a church in Kensington, London. As I drew nearer I saw smoke rising, and, nearer still, found a young man puffing on […]

I’m not a big fan of clever tee-shirts imprinted with smart-alecky sayings, but not long ago I saw one that caught my fancy. It read: “I was an okay parent, but I’m a helluva grandparent.” […]

There is but one true Jesus of Nazareth, the Incarnate Son of God. But there are many false Christs said to be “the real Jesus” or the “authentic Christ.”  These imposters are as varied as […]

Today is the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. This is not simply an historical anniversary, but a continuing call to conversion. The reflections of St. John Paul II and Ven. […]

“In the church, the [consecrated] religious are called to be prophets in particular by demonstrating how Jesus lived on this earth, and to proclaim how the kingdom of God will be in its perfection. A […]

For the child—and the adult who knows there is still a child in all of us—fairy tales reveal truths about ourselves and the world.  As psychologist Bruno Bettelheim stated in his extraordinary study, The Uses […]

The Hobby Lobby case pass set off an unabating, shrill firestorm. Late last week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi issued this warning about the Supreme Court: “We should be afraid about this court … five […]

Pope Francis, in reflecting during last Wednesday’s general audience about his recent trip to the Holy Land, said, “It was a great gift for the Church, and I thank God for it. He led me […]

Shortly after Christmas, I was invited to take part in a “friendly discussion” at the monthly meeting of a local chapter of self-described “freethinkers.” I’m not sure how they decided to approach me. Possibly they […]