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 […]
The gospel reading for Sunday, Jan. 22, recounts Matthew’s call story of the first disciples of Jesus. It is commonly accepted that Matthew drew on Mark’s Gospel for the “backbone,” one could say, of his narrative. Comparing both accounts enables one to see the similarities and differences between the two passages. Mark begins the section […]
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 […]
Catholic Charities of Buffalo has announced the members of its Appeal 2023 leadership team which include Adam Sumlin, Ph.D. as chair, Kevin Gannon as vice chair, Kevin Brayer and Daniel Mecca as corporate division chairs, and Laurie Brown-Croyts-Alford as community division chair. Sumlin, who served as vice chair for Appeal 2022 and as parish chair […]
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 […]
A new Liturgical Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent. This year many of the Gospel readings at our Sunday Eucharists are from the Gospel of Matthew. On the Fourth Sunday, we read of the annunciation to Joseph, Matt.1:18-24 (Luke’s gospel has the annunciation to Mary). The narrative relates Joseph’s discovery that his betrothed […]
