The Working Catholic: Jackie Robinson’s story is religious tale
The civil rights movement that followed the April 1947 debut of Robinson is also a religious story, even if some portrayals leave faith out of that history.
Horizons: Ma, Jesus and Heaven
On Mother's Day, it's important to say "loving words to the significant women in our lives today and everyday."
Church Reporter: Books, crooks and other half-minded thoughts
Among other questions, columnist asks, "why do we never hear about vote-stealing" from a moral perspective?
Garry Wills to Chicago priest: You read history backwards
Prominent Catholic author responds to priest's stinging criticism of new book.
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Echoes from the Rectory: A “spiritual journey with Jesus”
(POSTED: 2/19/13) Remember Lent is not just about giving up something but changing the pattern of our life so we can get closer to God and be the person He wants us to be. How will you do that? Spend some time reflecting on this and pray to make good
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Musings in Ordinary Time: A “human-sized” papacy
(POSTED: 2/13/13) The last time a papacy ended, in April 2005, great crowds assembled in St. Peter’s Square. They kept vigil, watched and prayed, until it was over. Reportedly, John Paul II had said: “I have searched for you, and now you have com
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Papal resignation stuns faithful, stirs concerns of Church’s future
(UPDATED: 2/12/13) "Citing advanced years and infirmity, but showing characteristic tough-mindedness and unpredictability, Pope Benedict XVI shocked Roman Catholics on Monday by saying that he would resign on Feb. 28, becoming the first pope to do so
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Faces of Faith: A judge speaks from the heart
(POSTED: 2/11/13) Charles Reynard, who considers himself a practicing Roman Catholic, has served as a circuit court judge in Illinois for the last 10 years. He’s a former state’s attorney of McLean County and previously practiced law for several
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Horizons: Pulling back on the throttle
(POSTED: 1/28/13) I was driving to work this past week when I had the alarming experience of police lights in my rearview mirror. My first reaction was that this guy cannot be after me; but he was. He pulled me over and asked for my license. I wa
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L’Osservatore Chicago: Relics
(POSTED: 1/21/13) I quite fancy the neat little half-circles of fingernail that line my sink after a weekly clipping. They may be only modified epidermis, as the dictionary says, but to me they are like diminutive tiaras. They are fetching. And, quit
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Afghan Journal: “Evangelizing and re-evangelizing” in tough terrain
(POSTED: 1/18/13) The Rev. Matt Foley is a Chicago priest serving as a U.S. military chaplain in Afghanistan. He sends us occasional dispatches, including this recent email. Q: Tell us about your average week, what you do? A: I am currently based o
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NEW COLUMN — God in All Things: “Spiritual but not religious”? Not so fast
(POSTED: 1/14/13) About a year ago I attended an excellent conference on the great American author Flannery O’Connor at Loyola University’s Water Tower Campus. O’Connor is a colossal figure in American letters – not only because of her superi
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Catholic education “in need of salvation”
(POSTED: 1/8/13) "Without an overhaul of money and personnel, the future of Catholic education is grim," according to one Loyola University Chicago professor, writing in an op-ed in the New York Times. "Since 1990, the church has closed almost 1,500
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The Working Catholic: The Church and American politics
(POSTED: 1/3/13) The Middle Ages are over. So too is that era’s model of Church-to-society influence, often called Christendom or the confessional state. It was a time in Europe of nearly complete fusion between Church and society. The liturgical c
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Faces of Faith: “Media nun” on communication and vocation
(POSTED: 12/31/12) Sister Helena Burns is not your typical nun: She tweets and texts and blogs. She’s on Facebook, YouTube and iTunes. And she’s currently writing and producing a movie. The self-proclaimed “media nun” lives in Chicago with
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Horizons: The countdown to the Christmas season
(POSTED: 12/26/12) I was trying to reach someone by phone this past week, and after several attempts, could not get a return phone call. When I finally got through to this person, he said, "I can't talk now; I'm too busy." He finally did call bac
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Growing in Holiness: In God’s will or in God’s way?
(POSTED: 12/24/12) As I was sitting in my parish men’s group on a recent Saturday morning reading the Gospel -- “the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a b
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From the Portico: What in the hell?
(POSTED: 12/19/12) The New Yorker provided interesting insight into the evolving evangelical movement by profiling “megachurch” pastor Rob Bell, who made his name in Michigan but attended Wheaton College in Chicago’s far west suburbs.
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Church Reporter: Sinful sermons
(POSTED: 12/17/12) Once again to the preaching issue. Sermons have been homilies for some time now. Trouble with homilies, they teeter everlastingly on the brink of being lectures with a smiley face -- about who wrote what no matter what you heard be
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