Commentary
Lessons from the Christmas Gospels
George Weigel, First Things Tuesday, December 23, 2025 Today, when the toxic fumes of anti-Semitism are poisoning public life and seem to be influencing far too many young Catholics (especially young men), the Gospel of the Christmas Vigil Mass…
When will governments cease persecuting the Little Sisters of the Poor?
Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture Monday, December 22, 2025 The Little Sisters of the Poor have appealed a federal court’s decision that would require them to offer coverage for contraception and abortion in health-care plans for their employees.…
Pope Leo’s China dilemma – The Catholic Thing
Paul P. Mariani, First Things Monday, December 22, 2025 There is good news and bad news about the Vatican’s policy of engagement with the People’s Republic of China. The good news is that the Vatican is talking to China. The bad news is that the…
Nigeria’s Christians are dying – The Catholic Thing
Nigeria has become the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, yet much of the international community responds with either indifference or outright denial. The facts are not subtle. Last year alone, more than 3,000 Christians were…
Would a U.S. war against Venezuela be just?
Edward Feser, Catholic World Report Friday, December 19, 2025 To all appearances, the United States is preparing for war with Venezuela. For months now, American military forces have been blowing up Venezuelan boats said to be carrying drugs.…
The German bishops’ conference, over the cliff
George Weigel, Catholic World Report Thursday, December 18, 2025 On October 30, the German bishops’ conference secretariat announced on the conference website the publication of a text by the bishops’ Commission on Schools and Education,…
I’ll Be Home for Christmas?
A recent essay in the New York Times’ “Modern Love” column was titled “The Case for Ending a Long, Mostly Good Marriage.” Left unspoken is the possibility that most women, if not all, might be happier and more “fulfilled” were they to raise…
The True Islam – The Catholic Thing
Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Vatican II, states that the Mohammedans “profess their faith as the faith of Abraham, and with us they worship the one, merciful God who will judge men on the last day” (par 16). But when…
When the Vicar of Christ joins the media scrum
Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register Wednesday, December 17, 2025 It has become a new papal convention. Every Tuesday evening, as Pope Leo XIV departs for the Vatican after his now-routine day of rest at Castel Gandolfo, he will stop to…
Hanukkah Light in a Dark World
Mendel Horowitz, First Things Tuesday, December 16, 2025 Before the Hamas war against Israel, the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City, and yesterday’s shooting attack in Australia, I associated Hanukkah with triumph rather than…