Pope Francis’s signature moment
April 2, 2020
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The pandemic Urbi et Orbi was a signal moment – perhaps the signature moment – in the pontificate of Pope
Lent’s long Gospels prepare us to be transformed at Easter
March 26, 2020
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Sunday Mass, if we were able to go to it, would be a bit longer these weeks, even without the
When someone leaves the Church, how do we pastors respond?
March 19, 2020
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Mary McAleese is still leaving the Catholic Church. Or considering it at least. Or threatening it. The former president of
A synod on synodality risks being self-referential
March 12, 2020
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The seventh anniversary of Pope Francis (March 13) falls at a time when the pontificate’s agenda has run into difficulty
Why didn’t Pius call Vatican II?
March 5, 2020
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The opening this week of the Vatican archives from the pontificate of the Venerable Pius XII offers a chance for
Jean Vanier and the cult of the founder
February 27, 2020
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The results of L’Arche’s investigation into their founder, Jean Vanier, were devastating on three levels. The news that the man
Is the dream of Francis as the ‘great liberal reformer’ dead?
February 20, 2020
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Last week brought us the much-anticipated “post-synodal apostolic exhortation”. Is there any less lovely combination of words on the Vatican
‘The desire to confess is overwhelming’: The theology of Mafia movies
February 13, 2020
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It was definitely not your godfather’s Oscars. The grand finale of Mafia films, Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half hour epic, The Irishman,
We used to believe bishops told the truth. What happened?
January 9, 2020
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One of the biggest stories of 2019 took place exactly a year ago. The Diocese of Pittsburgh confirmed that Cardinal
The Newman of the East
January 2, 2020
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Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India In 2019 we became more familiar with the life and mission of St John Henry Newman. Perhaps
Kerala’s radiant Catholicism
December 19, 2019
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Last month, Pope Francis and I were airborne over Asia together. In the air at the same time, but on
This papal anniversary should be a day of rejoicing
December 12, 2019
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The Eternal City keeps careful track of dates. If a bishop arrives for an audience on his ordination anniversary, you