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Archive: Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo
The Prophet Jeremiah
If the theology of Rev. Wright leads him to curse the United States, that is his constitutionally protected right for the free practice of his religion. The prophets in the Bible, notably his namesake Jeremiah, were the most vocal of history in cursing Israel.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | May 1, 2008; 10:21 AM ET | Comments (4)
Trust God, not Clergy
As a Catholic, I find it strange that some commentators presume that the people listening to a sermon are supposed to agree with everything the preacher says
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 18, 2008; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (31)
Leader of the Movement, not the Party
Were the historical Jesus in our midst, he would oppose the notion that running within the system would produce a president to change the system.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 7, 2008; 04:41 PM ET | Comments (8)
What’s Missing from the Unsurprising Pew Study
In the PARAL Study we found that the religion of the mother is more likely to dominate in a family where only one faith is chosen for the children.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 3, 2008; 07:35 AM ET | Comments (4)
Religious or Spiritual?
Obama may have changed the meaning of “faith and politics” into “spirituality and politics” for a long time to come.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 21, 2008; 07:47 AM ET | Comments (21)
Jesuits and Shariah
In high school, the Jesuits taught me that to find a principled answer to any question, it had to be stood on its head. So, before responding about Islamic law, we ought to ask first if U.S. law should make room for Christian teachings?
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 17, 2008; 10:17 PM ET | Comments (15)
Getting Secularism Right Leads to the Left
Atheists like to take credit for having invented secularism; they did – in Europe. Secularism in the U.S., on the other hand, is derivative of a high tolerance for all organized religion and a preference for no particular one.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 11, 2008; 08:41 AM ET | Comments (29)
One Incarnation is Enough to Save the World
Jesus died once and for all: no second life is necessary. If, as Dostoevsky mused, much has gone awry since the first Ascension Thursday, it is the fault of we who follow him.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 7, 2008; 12:26 PM ET | Comments (1)
Structural Sin
The exaltation of greed constitutes the structural acceptance of one of the Seven Deadly Sins. It goes against the teachings of my religion, if not also most religions, to reward the rich and punish the poor.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | January 21, 2008; 07:26 AM ET | Comments (11)
Jewish Identity and Popular Religiosity
The Jewish faith is not burdened with the Christian notion that “Outside the Church there is no salvation;” or that only baptized Christians go to heaven.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | January 14, 2008; 01:15 PM ET | Comments (9)
Presidential Spirituality, not Religion – Please!!
I put less stock in formal religious profession than I do in spirituality (or the lack of it) when I evaluate a presidential candidate.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | January 4, 2008; 02:05 PM ET | Comments (17)
Holiday or Holy Day?
Popular culture has so wounded the original sacred celebration that no amount of tinkering can restore its Christian meaning in the public square.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | December 21, 2007; 02:03 PM ET | Comments (30)
Romney’s Bit Will Bite Back
More worrisome was Romney’s characterization of religious extremism only as “jihad,” squarely making this abuse Islamic alone.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | December 6, 2007; 01:34 PM ET | Comments (35)
Forget Sin: Pay Attention to Relationships
What should concern a voting public is not the acted-on sexual urge of prominent citizens but the proclivity to betray a spouse or lie about an escapade.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | December 3, 2007; 08:11 AM ET | Comments (11)
An Earth Religion Thanksgiving Day
The meaning of the day no longer rests upon the dominance of one religion, such as that of the Pilgrims, which conquered the other one belonging to the Native Americans.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | November 26, 2007; 09:58 AM ET | Comments (17)
Subsidiarity: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The answer to whether health care belongs to parents or government is “Yes to both.” The question ought not to be seen as an either-or dichotomy, but as a both-and harmonization....
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | October 31, 2007; 12:57 PM ET | Comments (0)
And Who is My Neighbor?
In finding a way to protect themselves, religions wind up teaching the world how to tolerate others. What the world needs now is more religions.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | October 23, 2007; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (12)
Sherlock Holmes and the Spirits
Some years ago, I awoke suddenly from my sleep at the sound of my dead father’s voice, ringing in my ears.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | October 12, 2007; 03:04 PM ET | Comments (45)
Atheist's or Believer's Delight?
At issue is not the religious preference of the voter, but the religious practice of the candidate.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | October 5, 2007; 03:06 PM ET | Comments (213)
Fair and Balanced Hitchens
Certainly, one can appreciate that Chris has made known the fitting targets of his moral indignation: Mother Theresa but not Vice President Cheney. Perhaps for Chris, the former is the threat to the world; the latter, only to duck hunters.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | October 2, 2007; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (66)
Using Personality Cults and Being Used
It is not the presence of strong leaders that matters, but rather how that gift is used.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | September 20, 2007; 09:58 AM ET | Comments (19)
Religious Utopias Gone Amuck
The best tool against distorted religious teaching is virtuous religious practice. Faith matters when it is put into practice by good works.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | September 16, 2007; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (38)
Belief is Harder than Disbelief
Teresa continued to work within religion despite her doubts of God’s presence. That makes her a saint.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | September 4, 2007; 08:35 AM ET | Comments (62)
On the “Politics of God”
I have more confidence in Catholicism’s ability to dialog with Islam than in the opinions of a writer like Mark Lilla, who hasn’t done his homework in “The Politics of God,” published this week in The New York Times...
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | August 21, 2007; 02:29 PM ET | Comments (0)
Mary's Magnificent Magnificat
I pray every day to the Blessed Mother to help me live my life in the spirit of her Magnificat.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | August 17, 2007; 09:07 AM ET | Comments (93)
The Doctor as Artist and Chicken Soup as Prescription
Healing is an art that goes beyond mere science and morality transcends legal jargon.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | August 10, 2007; 12:26 PM ET | Comments (28)
All the Deities vs. No God At All
Notice that the Pledge of Allegiance is about “one NATION under God” not “a nation under ONE GOD.”
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | August 6, 2007; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (48)
Cards on the Table
The Pope rejects relativism that would have us believe that in substance all religions are equal. This ought not to be confused with the equal right of everyone to believe as they choose.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | July 22, 2007; 03:56 PM ET | Comments (28)
End Schism: Speak Latin
People should be free to worship in their language of choice, even if they are romantics.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | July 17, 2007; 08:06 AM ET | Comments (46)
Counseling Chaplains and Earth Ritual Enactments
Are these modern day shamans up to the professionalism required of today’s chaplains?
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | July 6, 2007; 10:06 AM ET | Comments (80)
Spirits are Everywhere, not in Heaven or Hell
Heaven and Hell are not places, but forms of virtual reality.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | June 28, 2007; 07:48 AM ET | Comments (64)
Wearing Faith and Works on the Sleeve
Clinton struck just the right note for the Democratic Party by saying she did not wear her religion on her sleeve.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | June 7, 2007; 06:03 AM ET | Comments (11)
More Religion Means More Peace
What concerns me about war is not my faith in God, but the role of institutionalized religion in letting itself be used to legitimize violence
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | May 31, 2007; 09:50 AM ET | Comments (107)
Bridging the Hitchens’ Gap
Christopher Hitchens is an author with a masterful domination of language who writes about only one thing: Christopher Hitchens.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | May 24, 2007; 09:03 AM ET | Comments (109)
The Wolsey Moment
Falwell gave religion a bad name among most of the people in the United States who do not believe in theocracy.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | May 15, 2007; 06:48 PM ET | Comments (29)
Isms Pollute the Mainstream
If Mormonism is questionable, how can it produce so many Mormons who are such good people?
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | May 3, 2007; 08:37 AM ET | Comments (41)
Apology as Restitution
There was a time when apology was linked to one’s good name.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | April 30, 2007; 08:05 AM ET | Comments (19)
Rosary Beads and Syncretism
I’ll say a rosary on my beads (another borrowing from the East) for anyone who doubts the ability to be orthodox while incorporating what is valuable in other religions.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | April 11, 2007; 07:56 AM ET | Comments (22)
Nothing Definite about Definitive Proof
These questions are bogus because they are based on fanciful speculation, not on facts.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | April 5, 2007; 07:40 AM ET | Comments (58)
Patterns of Prejudice
While not all coverage is prejudiced, there are multiple examples of media reporters and writers trying to fashion religion into their own image and likeness.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 30, 2007; 08:18 AM ET | Comments (55)
Entropy, Apocalypse and All That Jazz
I see no harm in adding a touch of religious imagery to science.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 22, 2007; 07:37 AM ET | Comments (11)
Bigots are Right: There is No Earthly Reason for Catholicism to Exist
Catholicism’s enemies come in all shapes and sizes and pop-up repeatedly in history.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 15, 2007; 08:00 AM ET | Comments (55)
Religious Literacy and the Educated Person Today
This is one instance in which it is better to do nothing than to do it badly.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 9, 2007; 07:27 AM ET | Comments (60)
Theological Wiggle Room
Same-sex marriage for Catholics must meet a sacramental test.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | March 2, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (53)
The Jewish State vs. the Catholic State
Would abandonment of status as “Jewish” represent a “good thing” for Israel?
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 22, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (50)
More Sex Means More Grace
If you spend your life “doin’ what comes naturally” you never do anything supernatural.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 18, 2007; 01:54 PM ET | Comments (52)
All Faiths Can Learn From Wiccans' Respect for Mother Earth
Earth religions revere sacredness of creation more than book religions.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 7, 2007; 08:36 AM ET | Comments (67)
Only Humans Pray
I would say that those who don’t pray have not achieved the fullness of their humanity.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | February 5, 2007; 09:10 AM ET | Comments (39)
Politicians' Fidelity To Denominational Teachings Is Test of Sincerity
It might be helpful in the forthcoming presidential campaign to frame questions about key issues by reference to each candidate’s denominational loyalty.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | January 25, 2007; 07:08 AM ET | Comments (30)
Meltdown of Religious Ice Age Bringing More Gender Equality
Institutionalized religions all too frequently have blunted theological teachings so that there is no religious distinction between God’s will and trivial human cultural customs.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | January 19, 2007; 08:36 AM ET | Comments (10)
Unjust War May Require US Reparations To Iraq
I stand with papal teaching that nuclear weaponry technology has made any full-scale war today unjust and immoral.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | January 12, 2007; 11:52 AM ET | Comments (328)
Dogmatic Atheists and Cuddly Agnostics
I think all Buddhists are “believing agnostics,” as are lots of liberal Protestants, progressive Jews, peace-loving Muslims and all my favorite Jesuits.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | December 27, 2006; 03:35 PM ET | Comments (171)
Definition of "Son of God" Is Personal
The Gospels are documents of faith, transmitting faith and can only be completely understood in faith.
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | December 22, 2006; 11:18 AM ET | Comments (722)
Christian Nation Helps Most Neglected, Including Unbelievers
Those who promote a “Christian nation” that mistreats non-Christians are misinterpreting the message of the Christ they profess to serve
By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo | December 15, 2006; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (18)
