Commentary
A ‘seamless garment’ for the Right?
In 1983, Cardinal Joseph Bernadin proposed the image of a seamless garment for a Catholic approach to what has been termed “the life issues.” In a widely quoted sentence, Bernadin argued that “the spectrum of life cuts across the issues of…
God in Winter – The Catholic Thing
Msgr. Charles Pope, Community in Mission Tuesday, January 27, 2026 These midwinter days, don’t miss God’s gift. It is true, it comes at the price of weather-related hardships. But MAYBE just maybe, God can get a few of us to stop, for just a…
Equatorial Guinea: Things to know ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral visit
Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in what will be his first pastoral journey to Africa since being elected Supreme Pontiff. Africa’s only Spanish-speaking country, Equatorial Guinea occupies a singular place on…
The Problem with the Jerusalem Patriarchs’ statement against Christian Zionism
On January 17, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy Land, including the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Church, issued a statement condemning “Christian Zionism.” The concerns raised are serious and, in important respects, legitimate. Yet…
Bishop Conley’s homily for the 2026 March for Life Vigil Mass
In his homily, Bishop James Conley said, “ bishops teach that there are other very grave threats to the life and dignity of the human person, including euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, the death penalty, human trafficking. There are also the…
When Catholic bishops criticize presidents, pay attention
It has been an unusually intense few days for American bishops regarding the policies of the Trump administration. Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, deplored the “violence, retribution, threats, protests, deep suspicion of one…
Why are Bible sales soaring in Britain?
The uptick in Bible purchases appears to be largely driven by young adults. And this is probably because the Bible has no political agenda, because it provides a compelling roadmap for life, and, of course, because it is true. J.R.R. Tolkien…
The great Christian reset – The Catholic Thing
Jonathon Van Maren, First Things Thursday, January 22, 2026 A number of the world’s leading opinion makers, some of them formerly atheist, have embraced Christianity. Among them are authors Niall Ferguson and his wife, Ayan Hirsi Ali. “I have a…
Help wanted: The Holy See’s coming diplomatic vacancies
Germany’s long-serving apostolic nuncio turned 75 on Tuesday, reaching the age at which bishops are expected to tender their resignations to the pope. Archbishop Nikola Eterović celebrated his milestone birthday Jan. 20, days after a private…
Why Greenland suddenly matters – The Catholic Thing
Javier Villamor, European Conservative Wednesday, January 21, 2026 For most of modern history, Greenland barely registered in global politics. It was widely seen as a distant, ice-covered territory with little influence beyond its immediate…