Taking an oath: Marriage, annulments, Kim Davis, and ‘A Man for All Seasons’
The 1966 classic starring Paul Scofield resonates with both the Kim Davis case and the pope's annulment reform in striking ways.
View ArticleThe US will show the pope its panoply of religious life
Francis will kick off his US visit with a White House reception featuring leaders of major evangelical groups, liberal Protestants, the "Nuns on the Bus" leader, and a gay Catholic blogger who says...
View ArticleA media guide to Pope Francis’ trip to America
Expect the unexpected, and polish your Spanish; this spontaneous pontiff will go off-script and off-the-cuff, often adding impromptu events that turn out to be the day’s biggest headline. PLUS: A...
View ArticleGay and celibate, Ron Belgau is the official face of gay Catholicism for the...
Of all the delicate issues Francis will face in the US, none may pose as much risk to his popular appeal as the Church's approach to gays and lesbians. And no one knows the perils better than Ron Belgau.
View ArticleSpirituality means many things in syncretic Cuba
Spirituality is expressed in many ways in Cuba, where different creeds and religious practices are widely accepted, even when they are mixed together.
View ArticlePope’s trip to Cuba and US may get even trickier with last-minute changes
An unplanned meeting with Fidel Castro in Cuba is likely, an encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the UN is unlikely, and if the pope meets with sexual abuse victims in the US, we'll find...
View ArticlePart 2: From flush to floundering, parish finances cover the gamut
Where to get enough money to keep the place and its programs running is a perennial problem for every parish, although the scale of the amount of money involved can be dramatically different.
View ArticleOur renters haven’t paid for 3 months because their mother has cancer and...
Your tenants need to figure out how to cope with the situation they’re in, but you should be willing to do what you can to help.
View ArticlePope Francis’ impact on Cuba, and its Church, is already being felt
With slow yet sure steps toward religious liberty increasingly visible on the island, the pope's visit could encourage many who denied their faith for fear of persecution to return to the Church.
View ArticleFrancis will find a Catholic Church in Cuba immersed in social work
After decades of conflict with Cuba's Communist-run government, the Catholic Church has quietly established itself as practically the only independent institution with any widespread influence on the...
View ArticleA look at the prominent US churches Pope Francis will visit
When Pope Francis visits the US in September, he'll make stops at important churches that have drawn the faithful and the curious for decades.
View ArticlePart 3: Although of many styles, Catholic schools face similar challenges
Today’s Catholic schools seem to have their feet in two worlds: They are steeped in long-standing tradition, while seeking ways to adapt to current needs.
View ArticlePope Francis souvenirs: Cheesy, snuggly, silly, solar-powered, and charitable
Creative and commercial attempts to cash in on Pope Francis' upcoming US visit this month know (almost) no limits.
View ArticleThis pope is keeping hope for change alive
The so-called “Francis Effect” lives on for those of us dissenting Catholics who feel welcomed by a pope for the first time in half a century.
View ArticlePope Francis’ address to US bishops could be consequential
If the pope’s tough speeches to bishops during past apostolic visits are any indication, US bishops should prepare for more than just a papal pep rally.
View ArticlePart 4: From do-it-all pastors to 100 ministries to guide
US parishes are dealing with a 35 percent decline in priests since 1965 by taking on heavy workloads, merging parishes, using laypeople and deacons, or simply doing without a priest in a daily, weekly,...
View ArticleMy husband and I are on different schedules. Should we choose sleep or sex?
Sex is a sacred act within a marriage, according to the Church. And as a boss of mine used to say, “You can sleep when you’re dead.”
View ArticleIs the Francis honeymoon finally over? Actually, no
There's a fascination with the apparently mythical decline and fall of Francis. But polls show that the pope may not be as divisive or as upsetting to the public as he is to the pundits.
View ArticlePope asks his Council of Cardinals to help him choose good bishops
Pope Francis has asked his international Council of Cardinals to study the way the Church vets, identifies, and appoints bishops around the world.
View ArticleSecret Service: No credible threats against Pope Francis
The Secret Service said the security was "unprecedented" in scale, largely because of the enormous swath of the East Coast that must be secured.
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