For many U.S. couples yearning to be married, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on their wedding plans while bolstering their teamwork and resilience. For couples already married, it has posed a host of new tests, bringing some closer, pulling others apart. Spending more time together — a common result of lockdowns, furloughs and layoffs — Read more
The military coup in Myanmar has been difficult for many Westerners to comprehend. Why did the generals act when they had effectively been in control of the country since allowing elections in 2011? Why move against civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when she had gone along with so much of their program, even defending Read more
Pope Francis recently decreed the women can be formally instituted as lectors (readers) and acolytes (altar servers) with an apostolic letter, issued “motu proprio” (by his own initiative) called Spiritus Domini. Guillaume Goubert, editor-in-chief of La Croix made this significant point in reference to the new legislation: Although he does not suggest it, Francis does Read more
Pope Francis celebrated Ash Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, reminding faithful the Lenten period leading to Easter celebrations is a journey and “an exodus from slavery to freedom.” “Lent is a journey of return to God,” the pope said during his homily on Feb. 17, to the socially distanced faithful attending the Mass. “Right now, Read more
Why pray? Let me suggest the first reason: God wants to be in a relationship with you. How can you know this? Because you want to pray. And how do I know that? Because you’re reading this. That may sound sarcastic, but it’s not. There’s a serious point here: your desire for prayer reveals something Read more
Molly Matthews will take over as CEO of Redmond-based Pushpay during a time of growth and transformation. The 10-year-old company helps churches collect donations and engage congregants. According to Matthews, Pushpay’s software saw heavy engagement this past year with Covid-19 forcing many churches to cease or limit in-person gatherings. As of Sept. 30, the company Read more
The good news: Pope Francis named Xaverian Sr. Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary to the Vatican’s office of the Synod of Bishops, possibly with voting rights. The other news: the second undersecretary named, Augustinian Fr. Luis Marín de San Martín, will become a bishop. The more things change. … Still, it is important to have a Read more
Sexual abuse perpetrated by Roman Catholic priests has been headline news for years. But even with so much press attention, there are many commonly accepted misconceptions about this. Remarkably, evidence-based research doesn’t always receive attention, while sensationalized stories that create a particular—and sometimes false—narrative do. This ultimately misinforms and harms the public—not to mention efforts to keep Read more
The American Catholic bishops are split over how to deal with Joe Biden, the first Catholic president since John F. Kennedy, but it’s not just one split. A small but vocal minority wants to punish the new president for his support of legalized abortion, gay rights and birth control. These are the bishops who consider Read more
Late last year, fashion designer Trelise Cooper was accused of perpetrating “colonial violence in floral polyester.” Cooper had named a tiered dress with a trailing hem: “Trail of Tiers.” Unfortunately, that sounds a lot like Trail of Tears, a series of forced death marches Native American tribes were sent on by the US Government between Read more