To follow up on our discussion of race last month (see here and here), I want to share an essay in the Boston Globe written by a very old friend of mine, Michael Fitzgerald. Mike, who is white, is married to a black woman and they have two teenage sons. He says things I have heard countless black fathers say, but he adds his own poignant perspective. Here are a few passages: I urge you to read the whole thing.... Read more
[Editorial note: it is summer, and while I cannot speak for my fellow bloggers, I have been busy with other things–mostly my forthcoming move to Alabama. So I have been remiss in posting and responding to comments. I responded to several comments today—thanks to my readers for their patience. I have been quite engaged by these discussions on racism, climate change and related topics. Moreover, here is a short post that I had hoped to turn into a longer one... Read more
I have some ideas for a post that ties in with July 4, but alas, work is taking priority over blogging. However, the Lord provides. As I mentioned a few months ago, I had gotten terribly far behind with my daily gospel readings, and was reading Advent in Lent. Well, I got pretty far caught up, but then Holy Week hit and I fell off my stride and I am really behind again. But today, I opened the oldest readings... Read more
I read this six months ago and thought to do a post about racism in America, but it never happened. Since my colleague Jeannine has thoughtfully raised the subject in her most recent post, I decided to share this. Edward K. Braxton is the bishop of Belleville in southern Illinois. He was originally a priest of the archdiocese of Chicago; I knew him slightly 30 years ago when he was head of Calvert House, the Catholic center at the University... Read more
I vividly recall the autumn of 2008. I had just moved from the US to Canada to start my Master’s degree in Toronto. Eager to vote in my second US presidential election, I ordered my absentee ballot well in advance and set to work informing myself about the candidates and their stances on issues that mattered. It was not an easy decision. Nevertheless, I remember the thrill that pulsed through me on that chilly November evening as the election results... Read more
The BBC World Service recently featured some striking coverage of responses to Wednesday’s shooting at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, particularly from within the church community itself. I was especially amazed by one attendee of a prayer vigil for the victims (speaking about 32 1/2 minutes into this radio program) who said of Dylann Roof, who shot and killed nine people at a Bible study: What he was going to accomplish, he did the opposite. And so we’re smiling... Read more
The Pope’s encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si, has been officially released. The storm in the commentariat is about to begin. My advice: drop everything and read it. Now. Skip the summaries, the commentaries, the reactions, the ideological spinning by the left and right. I have spent the past two hours skimming through it, and it is amazing. If taken seriously this may be a game changer for the Church and for the world. But, please, do not take... Read more
The news broke yesterday afternoon: Archbishop John Nienstedt, archbishop of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche have both resigned from their positions. The archbishop has been under considerable pressure to resign, including from some of his own priests, because of the way the Archdiocese mishandled sexual abuse allegations. The Archbishop has put a brave face on the matter, writing in his short statement that I leave with a clear conscience knowing that my team and I have put... Read more
A while back I posted a complete transcript of remarks by Pope Francis on the death penalty. While a speech is not as authoritative as an encyclical or apostolic letter, a prepared text such as this seems to give a pretty concrete summary of his views on the death penalty. I had hoped to follow up on this post with further ruminations on the death penalty, a topic I have talked about before (see here and here). Alas, I never... Read more
From the good folks at the Daily Gospel Online, a quote from St. Augustine that I enjoyed and wanted to share. It captures something important about the Blessed Mother and all Christians, and it brings to mind St. Francis’ description of her as “the virgin made Church.” I beg you to listen to what the Lord had to say when he stretched out his hand towards his disciples: “Here are my mother and my brethren”; and, “whoever does the will... Read more
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