Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022) was the world’s most prominent Christian leader, and perhaps the most faithful person to lead a nation. More than the pope — her reign saw seven of them — she was a constant presence in Christian life in Britain, at Church and in prayer. She showed by example, leading Read more
When Catholics in Germany recently gathered for their latest session of the Synodal Path, there were tensions around a text arguing that current Church dogma; teachings on sexual morality need to evolve. Several bishops at the September 8-11 assembly baulked at the proposal. But Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, who is currently a Read more
The first thing I remember being taught about suicide is that it is selfish. And so in my middling Protestant childhood, while I did not worry about the eternal destiny of people who killed themselves, I did believe suicide was principally a moral failing. In Catholicism, the situation was more complex. Suicide was thought to Read more
I have written about mathematics for The New Yorker and, lately, also in my book “A Divine Language: Learning Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus at the Edge of Old Age,” and I thought that I had said everything I had to say about mathematics and my simple engagement with it, but I find I can’t stop Read more
At precisely noon on May 17, 2011, the 85-year-old daughter of the last king of Ireland touched down at Casement Aerodrome, a military airfield southwest of Dublin. For the first time in a century, a reigning British monarch set foot in what is now the Republic of Ireland but for centuries had been the impoverished Read more
Pope Francis has had a fair amount of success in getting people to look with new eyes at major issues or problems in our world. He has been helped out in this thanks to generally friendly media coverage. Of course, that doesn’t mean people always agree with what he says or that those who do Read more
“The secret to living well and longer is: Eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure.” – Tibetan Proverb. (As recalled from a social media post.) The Tibetan proverb, which may be neither Tibetan nor a proverb, stabs my heart a little; at least, the part about walking double does. Due to osteoarthritis Read more
Most of my adult life I have learned to be logical in my choices. Now, however, it is logic itself that I am doubting. You hear people saying ‘everything happens for a reason’, and so they attach a reason to things. Reason is not the explanation. It’s a face-saving gimmick we humans import to cover Read more
Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, which will take place in October 2023, is the greatest gamble of this papacy. It may succeed in bringing greater unity to the church, or it could result in greater conflict and division. Synods under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI were stage-managed affairs, where the agenda and debate Read more
Comedian and Author Max Dickins was about to propose to his girlfriend when he realised he didn’t have any best man options. Spending all his time between work, partner and family had destroyed his circle of friends. So Max looked into the situation and found a lot of people in the same boat. His new Read more