Even before Covid-19 struck, countless workers were suffering from economic injustice in numerous ways, such as a very low minimum wage – $7.25 per hour in the U.S. – sweatshop workers in poor countries sewing clothes for name brand companies in rich nations, children laboring in dangerous conditions (see: https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights/child-labor). According to the Worker Rights […]
Forty years ago the United States Catholic bishops wrote a document that stirred up public opinion like none other. Many Catholics, and non-Catholics alike, were highly critical of the bishops. I was proud of them. In 1983, tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was running high. The military industrial complex was developing and […]
Jesus was totally nonviolent. Any serious contextual reading of the Gospel reveals Jesus courageously, prophetically proclaiming the Kingdom of God – often amidst hostile opposition – while never resorting to violence. “But to you who hear,” said Jesus, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for […]
The recent 50th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. was a victory lap for the pro-life movement. After 49 years of marching to nonviolently protest the U.S.’s infamous Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade – which legalized abortion during all nine months of pregnancy – the high court finally overruled that highly immoral […]
In the Gospel account of the “Judgement of the Nations,” Jesus warns us that not attending to the basic needs of our suffering brothers and sisters for food, drink, clothing, companionship, and welcome alienates us from him – possibly eternally so. Among his clear warnings here is “I was … a stranger and you gave […]
What is the greatest lesson you learned from Covid-19? For Pope Francis it is that “we all need one another.” So true, and yet, so often ignored. With this essential, foundational life lesson, the Holy Father builds a New Year’s invitation for global peace. In his Jan. 1, 2023, World Day of Peace message […]
During this wonderful time of the year, when Christians throughout the world focus minds and hearts on the coming of God himself upon the earth as one of us, our attention naturally turns to the place where the incarnation occurred. While all the earth is a holy creation of the Almighty, Bethlehem and the surrounding […]
Over 21 years ago, when Catholic News Service offered me the wonderful opportunity to write a biweekly syndicated social justice and peace column, I wondered if there would always be enough to write about. But during my 11 years writing for CNS, and in the last 10 years as a self-syndicated columnist, God has always […]
During his conversation with journalists on his flight back to Rome from his recent pastoral visit to Bahrain, Pope Francis shared his thoughts on many of the world’s current human-made tragedies – including today’s numerous armed conflicts which reminded him of the World War II Allied military landings at Normandy, France. He said, “It was […]
Although the recent celebration of All Saints Day (Nov. 1) has come and gone, God’s personal invitation to you to strive for holiness continues. God is calling you to be a saint. And Lord knows, our wounded world needs saints. Not next week, not next month, not next year, but now is the time humanity […]
