Posts About Catholic
Bishops should proceed with caution
U. S. Catholic Bishops and other religious leaders are justified in their involvement in congressional discussions of health care reform. But they should proceed with caution.
The divisiveness of Christian unity
Pope Benedict's bold move to embrace disaffected Anglicans paradoxically opens a path for Christian unity while also reemphasizing the doctrinal difficulties in bringing Christian denominations closer together.
Crime is Crime is Crime. Not.
It is most helpful to see hate crimes legislation as a reflection of changing social boundaries and mores. For this reason, the debate should be joined over more substantive consideration of which ethical or ideological system is most appropriate for the society we wish to create and protect.
Catholic Arachnophobia
How to describe my discomfort at seeing viral videos of a spider crawling across Pope Benedict's cassock.
A Seamless Garment
Nuclear disarmament is a clear moral imperative and we should pray for it. I would argue that prayer is in fact more effective than UN Security Council resolutions that amount to nothing more than a moralizing patina created by the corrosive dynamics of international politics.
Texas Should Start Over
The Texas Board of Education should start over. It could begin by replacing consultants who are overly enamored with "emphasizing the roles of the Bible, Christianity, and the civic virtue of religion."
The Limit of Mercy
The limit of mercy is the limit of faith.
Tweeting Gods
A tweeting God? In cyberspace things aren't necessary what they appear to be
Carter's Fundamentalism
Carter has a fundamentalism of his own. As I read his letter, it strikes me that Carter still wishes to affirm the inviolability of scripture.
Calcutta Calling New York City
If Mayor Bloomberg would exchange places with his counter-part in Calcutta, he'd probably reconsider his position.
The Wages of Pandering
The difference between penitence and pandering is reflected in the acknowledgment that letting go is not the same as running away.
The Veil in Context
If Western civil societies seek to affirm religious liberty and self-expression, there can be a place for the veil for those Muslim women who feel religiously or personally inclined to wear it.
Tony Blair and "Rethinking" Sexuality
In an interview with a gay magazine, Tony Blair said religions need to "rethink" sexuality. Catholics already are.
Holy Week: The Week Jesus Failed
Jesus failed to convince even his disciples, but went on -- a Holy Week lesson of hope to us all.
Disarming Holy Texts
Every religion has a problem with sacred texts. How can an inspired gift from God be a source of human suffering?
Apology, Acknowledgment, and Contrition
Only if the church vigorously prosecutes those who are guilty will the Pope's apology have depth and force. To date, the church has been ambiguous at best in its carrying out of this grave responsibility.
The Power of Apology
Benedict's courage to apologize on behalf of the church, in spite of the criticism he knew he would get, shows he understands that false pride really does come before the fall.
A Papal Cry of Pain
The personal quality of the Pope's apology is stunning, and a broad call for tolerance and reconciliation.
New Occasions Teach New Duties -- Even to Popes
Benedict's apologies are welcome -- but some day, some Pope may apologize for Rome's long-continued use of the Roman emperor as model for the papacy.
Pope Benedict's Professor Problem
Unless the pope changes how he gets information and how he makes decisions, we will continue to have these periodic media disasters.
