Viewpoint

One of the questions that I – like most priests – am asked every now and then is whether I have ever performed an exorcism.  For the sake of... (Read more)

Recently, a young man considering the priesthood told me that he thought the rise of lay ministry in the Church was threatening the role of the... (Read more)

The Catholic Church in the U.S. has been committed since Vatican II to a new and vigorous program of evangelization. However, discussions and... (Read more)

One of the topics that catechists preparing parents for the baptism of their child must explain is the notion of original sin, a topic that has,... (Read more)

One hears on a regular basis these days that people are “spiritual but not religious” – thus giving up on “organized” religion. For many... (Read more)

The touchiest aspects of funeral planning are music and eulogies. In my experience, at least half of the time one or more family members or... (Read more)

As is readily acknowledged on both sides, Catholics and Orthodox already have much in common - acceptance of the teaching of the first seven... (Read more)

The story that we narrate and celebrate at Christmas needs no rehearsal. We know it by heart. The story has ancient roots in the world before... (Read more)

In both New Age spirituality and Christian fundamentalism, belief in angels is very high. However, in contemporary mainstream Christianity... (Read more)

The Catholic liturgical tradition regards the Sign of Peace at Mass as a disciplined and restrained public gesture, and not an affectionate... (Read more)