PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Inquirer daily newspaper reported Aug. 16 that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is investigating allegations of sexual harassment from a former student at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
The paper reported that a letter with claims that a...
The Gospel of Matthew 19:17-22 tells the familiar story of the rich young man who wants to know what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus' reply to him is, "keep the commandments." The young man, clearly a...
I can identify, a little at least, with the rich young man to whom Jesus says "sell what you have and give to poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Mt 19-21). It...
Lazarus, a destitute man, is a central character in one of Jesus' best-known parables (Lk 16:19-31). The poor man's name reveals a great deal about him.
Actually, every person's name is revealing. A name possesses a unique, hidden power. Names...
"Become a beggar. That's what is lacking, learning to beg from those to whom we give," Pope Francis told youths when he visited the Philippines in January 2015. He meant he wanted the youths "to be evangelized by" those...
VATICAN CITY -- "No effort must be spared" to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and "to prevent the possibility of their being covered up," Pope Francis said in a letter addressed "to the people of God."
"I acknowledge...
By RICHARD DOERFLINGER
The Senate debate over a new U.S. Supreme Court nomination has revived an older debate: whether that court should overrule its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision declaring a "right" to abortion. A publication called the National Catholic...
By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK
Jealousy destroys families, companies, governments, religious progress and, worst of all, those infected by it.
On the ruinous effects of jealousy, Anglo-Irish author Elizabeth Bowen wrote, "Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies."
Jealousy often...
By JOHN GARVEY
The news of ex-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick's crimes is deeply troubling for two reasons.
The first is that it is a serious blow to the church's moral authority. We suffered something like this in 2002, with the disclosure...
VATICAN CITY — Like the ancient Israelites, Christians today also can fall into the temptation of creating their own idols when difficulties and uncertainties arise, Pope Francis said.
“To escape precariousness human nature looks for a ‘do-it-yourself’ religion. If God...