The paradoxes of inclusion

In a recent homily, Bishop Robert E. Barron rightly identified two paramount values in our secular culture: being "inclusive" and being "nonjudgmental." More ... Wednesday, April 25, 2018

A little boy meets a pastor

A remarkable video of Pope Francis answering a young boy's deeply personal question was posted by Catholic News Service recently. More ... Monday, April 23, 2018

Catholic journalist, former Rider student, recalls lessons taught by a great lady

Along with many in this country and around the world, I mourn the loss of Barbara Bush, the former first lady who died April 17 at the age of 92. In my few and brief encounters with her, I always found her to be kind and gracious. More ... Friday, April 20, 2018

In the beginning

Stephen Hawking died last month. He was a brilliant and influential physicist responsible for, among other things, the conclusion that black holes emit energy that we now call "Hawking radiation." More ... Friday, April 20, 2018

Instead of building walls, the U.S. should revisit good neighborism

The Americas are one landmass. The fates of its states and its people are inseparable. America does not merely stretch from sea to shining sea, but from Cape Horn to the northern ice caps. More ... Thursday, April 19, 2018

A Hispanic Catholic Pentecost

One familiar question among those trying to get a better sense of the U.S. Hispanic Catholic experience is how many Roman Catholic Hispanics are charismatic. More ... Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Three steps to joy

"Evangelii Gaudium," "Amoris Laetitia" and, now, "Gaudete et Exsultate." What do they have in common? They were written by Pope Francis? Yes. They are apostolic exhortations? Yes. More important? Joy. More ... Monday, April 16, 2018

Planned Parenthood's abortion fixation

Cecile Richards, who plans to retire this year as president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has authored a self-congratulatory memoir called "Make Trouble." More ... Friday, April 13, 2018

A pro-life opportunity

"Pro-life includes sensible gun control." It was one among a forest of signs at the recent "March for Our Lives" in Washington, D.C., that attracted hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, but it caught my attention. Has the eruption of gun control activism following the spate of school shootings, most recently in Parkland, Florida, provided an opportunity for the pro-life movement? If so, will pro-lifers seize it?  More ... Thursday, April 5, 2018

Why Sister Jean and Father Rob matter

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt and Father Rob Hagan have been getting a lot of attention these days in the national media. More ... Thursday, April 5, 2018

Food for thought on helpless seniors

On March 11, The Washington Post reported on efforts to expand the "right to die" in Oregon and elsewhere. More ... Thursday, March 29, 2018