Commentary
Is Donald Trump Antichrist? – The Catholic Thing
My question is not quite the provocation it will probably sound like to some readers. For one thing, even an answer in the affirmative does not necessarily mean that the former host of Celebrity Apprentice is actually the Beast From the Sea…
New York Is Bullying Nuns Who Care for the Dying
New York governor Kathy Hochul recently made headlines for decriminalizing assisted suicide, claiming as motivation her compassion for the terminally ill. Now her state’s public health agency has targeted Catholic sisters who actually serve…
Is the Catholic revival really so quiet?
We have all heard that famous quote echoed by Mark Twain, the provenance of which is disputed: ‘There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.’ Perhaps this is a little too strong when assessing the truth behind the so-called…
God and Man at MIT
The pamphleteers are hard to miss. They stand in front of the big doors of Lobby 7, MIT’s main entrance, waving, preaching, and flagging down passersby with all the urgency appropriate to their task: saving young souls. Most students stream…
The Merchant Who Became a Saint
The figure of Omobono of Cremona occupies a peculiar place in Catholic history and Christian moral imagination. He is neither a monk nor a prince, neither a martyr nor a theologian, but a working merchant in a city whose life was already shaped…
A Disembodied Gospel – The Catholic Thing
I am a priest, and I have drawn a hard line on artificial intelligence. Insofar as I can, I avoid it. I am aware of course that A.I. has already become so much a part of ordinary modern life and that I cannot truly forgo its use. So when I say…
How cool the wind – On biblical language and the weather
A few weeks ago, a boy died not far from where I live. He was twelve years old. Even before the local T.V. stations had confirmed his death, there were wild rumors that a child had gone missing. Some said that he had gone out to play during a…
Looking for the Real Catholic Church in New York City
Young Catholics are on the rise in New York City, according to the Washington Post, the New York Post, and social media influencers who sell the faith with an implicit message: “Everyone’s becoming Catholic—you should too.” But to a Reformed…
Ethics of rhetoric in times of war
On Easter Sunday, Donald Trump issued a statement on social media threatening the destruction of civilian infrastructure should Iran’s leaders fail to comply with his terms. At a press conference on Monday, he amped up the threat: “The entire…
King Charles is failing to defend the Faith
Last week, King Charles III neglected to put out a statement celebrating Easter. This is not abnormal in the history of the modern British monarchy; Queen Elizabeth only delivered one Easter message in her 70-year reign. What is abnormal is…