Viewpoint
The practice of Lenten fasting has many dimensions
Fasting is one of the practices associated traditionally with the season of Lent—a practice which has a rich body of... Read more
Prosperity gospel is a travesty of the good news of Christ
Perhaps the most appalling aspect of televangelism is what is called “the prosperity gospel,” that is the conviction that God... Read more
Heaven is the fulfilment of earth
Recently I received a letter from a lady in Seattle in which she said that when she dies she will... Read more
Thanksgiving Day invites a generous attitude of blessing
Some time ago, I came across a book entitled, “The Book of Irish Curses.” The book was intended to be... Read more
Was Saint Paul a male chauvinist?
The reading from Paul to the Ephesians (5: 21-32) on the relationship between husbands and wives read at Sunday Mass... Read more
All Saints’ Day includes every man and women of goodwill
The month of November opens with the celebration of one of the richest feasts of the liturgical year, the Solemnity... Read more
A new model of catechumenal formation needs promotion
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is one of the most successful features of post-Vatican II liturgical renewal.... Read more
Lay ministry and ordained ministry complement each other
Recently, a young man considering the priesthood told me that he thought the rise of lay ministry in the Church... Read more
Evangelization means the renewal of Catholic institutions
The Catholic Church in the U.S. has been committed since Vatican II to a new and vigorous program of evangelization.... Read more
Recovering the notion of original sin
One of the topics that catechists preparing parents for the baptism of their child must explain is the notion of... Read more
“Spirituality” without “religion” does not hold up
One hears on a regular basis these days that people are “spiritual but not religious” – thus giving up on... Read more
Are eulogies allowed at funeral masses?
The touchiest aspects of funeral planning are music and eulogies. In my experience, at least half of the time one... Read more
Catholic-Orthodox reunion prospects
As is readily acknowledged on both sides, Catholics and Orthodox already have much in common - acceptance of the teaching... Read more
O come, Emmanuel: come, Lord Jesus!
The story that we narrate and celebrate at Christmas needs no rehearsal. We know it by heart. The story has... Read more
Is belief in angels and archangels on the wane?
In both New Age spirituality and Christian fundamentalism, belief in angels is very high. However, in contemporary mainstream Christianity (including... Read more
Sign of peace at Mass needs to maintain a public character
The Catholic liturgical tradition regards the Sign of Peace at Mass as a disciplined and restrained public gesture, and not... Read more
Is the Church Judge, Therapist, or Mother?
In his book titled Images of the Church in the New Testament, the Lutheran theologian Paul Minear found that in... Read more
Multicultural Ministry Needs a New Perspective
One of the most pressing challenges facing the Catholic Church in the U.S. today is the necessity of more adequate... Read more
What Does it Mean that Jesus “Descended Into Hell”?
When the third edition of the Roman Missal was put into use in the U.S. in Advent 2011, Catholics were... Read more
Four Books to Read during the Coming Year
Here are four books (in no particular order) that I recommend for 2017. All are excellent and none requires specialized... Read more
