Commentary
From Syria to Ukraine: The shadow of 2013 on papal peace initiatives
Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register Friday, September 5, 2025 Some observers have noted that Leo’s peace initiatives echo Pope Francis’ early in his pontificate. The former is different from the latter, however, and likely took…
Time to move beyond “Synoding”?
George Weigel, First Things Thursday, September 4, 2025 Pope Benedict XVI wrote that the historical-critical analysis had value in its time, but now we need to take into account “the living tradition of the whole Church”; one that reads the…
Trump needs a direction shift on the abortion pill
Editors, National Catholic Register Thursday, September 4, 2025 There’s only one way Donald Trump’s second administration can be remembered as a pro-life presidency in a manner comparable to his widely praised first term in office. He needs to…
Three thoughts about prayers – The Catholic Thing
John M. Grondelski, Catholic World Report Wednesday, September 3, 2025 In the wake of the murder of children during Mass in a Minneapolis church, various politicians excoriated people who expressed sympathy by sending “thoughts and prayers.”…
The AI cheating epidemic – The Catholic Thing
Jeremy S. Adams, First Things Wednesday, September 3, 2025 An award-winning teacher writes: “Last spring, some of my graduating seniors felt obligated to take me aside before graduation, as if I were a naive child, and pronounce a dark truth in…
Annunciation School and the cost of denying reality
We live in a culture-wide form of mental illness about human identity and purpose; a resentment of the body, its imperfections and limitations. At its worst, this frustration with the “givenness” of flesh and blood reality flowers into violence,…
Bruce Springsteen wouldn’t be Springsteen without the Catholic faith
Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register Tuesday, September 2, 2025 The 50th anniversary this week of Bruce Springsteen’s breakthrough album, Born to Run, got wide notice, including as a Catholic event. Springsteen is arguably rock…
Wrangling over gun control is easier for the Left than confronting metaphysical evil
Gavin Ashenden, Catholic Herald Monday, September 1, 2025 The Left says, “Look at this execrable tragedy. If we did not have guns in our society, these shootings could not happen.” The Right replies, “These guns don’t shoot themselves. It’s the…
The end of natural parenthood
Ten years ago, via judicial fiat, the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage for the entire nation. But it did more than that. Obergefell v. Hodges not only redefined marriage. It redefined parenthood. For centuries, Anglo-American common law had…
Taylor and Travis: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”
On Wednesday, at 1 p.m. EST, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement on Instagram, and the tongue-in-cheek caption with their engagement photo plays down the fact that this is perhaps the most famous couple in the world. The…