French philosopher André Glucksmann finds the situation in Europe “extremely unsettling.” In a Spiegel interview, he discusses the failure of European intellectuals, how divisions could lead to an EU breakup or even hostilities, and why pursuing a United States of Europe is “the wrong goal.” In France, André Glucksmann is one of the so-called New Read more
“Be careful what you wish for,” as the saying goes, “because you will surely get it.” In light of a couple of recent Vatican stories, the corollary also seems to apply: Be careful what you try to avoid, because it might actually be good for you. A stringent European money laundering exam in July and Read more
On Tuesday, the New York Times put together a remarkable chart showing that, with the naming of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential running mate, there are now no white protestants among this country’s top leaders in Washington. Both Joe Biden and Paul Ryan are Catholics (as are six of the nine Supreme Court justices and House Speaker John Boehner), Read more
Most people believe the real power in Catholicism resides with the hierarchy, and in terms of both theology and church law, that’s basically right. For instance, canon law says the pope wields “supreme, full, immediate and universal” authority, and it’s tough to get more sweeping than that. One wonders, however, if an accountant would reach Read more
The percentage of Catholics practicing their faith is declining almost everywhere around the globe. Almost all bishops report it, but it’s difficult to prove statistically. Each year, the Vatican’s own statisticians compile mountains of data about the number of Catholics, baptisms, priests and religious, weddings and annulments in each diocese and country. The numbers illustrate Read more
Monsignor William J. Lynn, former Secretary for the Clergy, in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 3-6 years in prison for child endangerment. A jury found Monsignor Lynn culpable in reassigning predator priests to unwary parishes. Bill Lynn was my classmate. I have known him for forty years. He is a good man Read more
A new film by philosopher, priest and producer Father Robert Spitzer aims to integrate faith and reason by making the claim that God’s existence can be proved through scientific evidence. “We thought the whole story wasn’t being told in the media about the evidence for God from physics,” the Jesuit priest told CNA. “We’re utterly Read more
While Team Great Britain’s (and New Zealand’s) crews rowed to four gold medals at the London Olympics, a Catholic priest, who is a chaplain offering pastoral support to visitors to the Games, meditated on the parallels between the Olympic sport and the life of a Christian. “Rowing is the perfect metaphor for life,” says Father Read more
Mitt Romney’s choice of Congressman Paul Ryan to be his running mate is electrifying. But, electricity is dangerous at times and, in this instance, Ryan is standing in a pool of watery dissent from Catholic Social Teaching that has existed on the Catholic right for some time. In 1961, William F. Buckley published a critique Read more
Remember when Russia was ruled by godless communists who persecuted believers? How times have changed: In the latest Moscow show trial, three punk rockers (Pussy Riot) who sang a protest song in a church face prison time for insulting religion. The one constant between then and now is a state hostile to free minds and free Read more