CNA Columns
Street time and sacred time
The arrival of November signals that the year is winding down. Today, All Souls’ Day is dedicated to remembering our... Read more
Young people and gay marriage
Last year a bill to legalize civil unions was defeated in Colorado. The legislation will be back again when Colorado’s... Read more
Fall into chamber music
A chill in the air, crackling leaves, and a roaring fireplace put me in mind of chamber music for some... Read more
Don't just know Christ: Love him
Scripture tells us that after the crushing sadness of the crucifixion, the joy felt by the disciples in recognizing Jesus... Read more
Persecution in America
“What the Catholic Church in the United States really needs to stiffen its backbone is a good persecution.” How often,... Read more
Hallowe’en, Halloween, and the call to sainthood
It is not generally known that, until 1955, Hallowe’en was listed on the Church’s liturgical calendar. Today, Halloween, as it... Read more
Founding Fathers in faith
As I knelt staring at St. John de Brebeuf’s skull through the glass case at the Martyr’s Shrine in Midland,... Read more
What faith is and what it isn’t
The Protestant theologian Paul Tillich once commented that “faith” is the most misunderstood word in the religious vocabulary. I’m increasingly... Read more
A review of Stephen Greenblatt’s 'The Swerve'
In 2005, Harvard scholar Stephen Greenblatt published a wonderful book on Shakespeare called “Will in the World.” Witty, insightful and... Read more
Obamacare: An End to Religious Freedom in Health Care?
Last year, amidst the contentious debates surrounding Obamacare, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spoke strongly in favor of a... Read more
The importance of voting
Catholics have a responsibility to participate in public life in order to positively influence our communities, our states and our... Read more
The glory of the Lord is ours
For the past several weeks, our reflections have focused on the suffering Lord according to St. Paul’s hymn in Philippians... Read more
Getting the message in the Church?
Draw yourself an organization chart representing the Catholic Church. What you’ll get is a sketch of an ecclesiastical institution that... Read more
An Attack on Conscience
A department of the federal government is seeking to force churches to violate their conscience. The US Department of Health... Read more
Suffering and Beauty Part 4
In St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:5-11), universal redemption is proclaimed. Jesus saves all men and women by canceling... Read more
'Moneyball' and spiritual leadership
The management of the 2002 Oakland Athletics found itself in a bind. The team had performed very well the previous... Read more
The Government’s Campaign against Marriage: No Time for Silence
On September 21, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Large majorities in both... Read more
Suffering and beauty, part 3
Jesus predicted his passion and death to fulfill the prophecies through the mouths of the Old Testament prophets. In fact,... Read more
Pope Benedict XVI among the Germans
It is with a particular fascination that I’ve been following the speeches that Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) has been... Read more
Courage: Speaking the truth in love
The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. They brought him a woman who had been caught in adultery, and stood her... Read more
