Pope Leo’s new Apostolic Letter for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, In Unitate Fidei, presents a compelling vision of evangelization. Pope Leo poses the question: “What does God mean to me and how do I bear witness to my faith in him?” And he answers it by stating, “we bear...
December 1, 2019, was more than a date on the calendar. For thousands of us in New Jersey, it was the first day we could walk through a courthouse door without being told we were too late. It was the day the New Jersey Child Victims Act took effect — a law that...
Many Catholics recently celebrated a quote from Pope Leo XIV that was widely interpreted as a rejection of “open borders.” But is that what he actually meant? And how does this fit into a broader pattern of “loophole Catholicism”, the habit of focusing on small caveats while ignoring the larger message of the...
Every generation must decide whom it will follow. In our time, the kings we serve are often unseen—algorithms, trends, and screens that subtly shape what we value. In a world where social media defines so much of our identity, it is easy to lose sight of the deeper questions that truly form our...
I would begin by praising your unremitting efforts, in the best traditions of the Church in America, to respond to the ongoing phenomenon of immigration in your country. The Catholic community in the United States continues, with great generosity, to welcome waves of new immigrants, to provide them with pastoral care and charitable...
Losing your balance and falling down can happen at any age, though it is more common among the very young and the very old. I recently saw a little girl, no more than two years old, following her mother on a leading string. She was so mesmerized by the sight of a nun...
Pope Leo XIV has asked that the faithful spend time during this month of November to pray for those who experience suicidal thoughts, despair, and hopelessness. His request was made via the release of the month’s The Pope Video, a project of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network which focuses on sharing the Pope’s...
Sarah Carter and I hosted a livestream conversation on Substack last week about Pope Leo’s Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te. This was a pretty freewheeling conversation that ranged from giving an overview of the document, sharing our personal reactions to it, and taking listener questions. I had a lot of fun being a part...
On Friday, Nov. 14, after months of speculation, Catholics finally learned that Pope Leo XIV does not intend to overturn Traditionis Custodes. Rome signaled instead that it will consider more generous, renewable two-year dispensations at the request of bishops. With that announcement, the center of the liturgical conversation has subtly shifted. Rather than...
What ever happened to the term “Cafeteria Catholic”? If you spent any time in Catholic spaces during the late 2000s or early 2010s, you probably heard it everywhere, to describe Catholics who “pick and choose” which teachings to follow. But then, almost overnight, the phrase disappeared. In this video, Pedro Gabriel takes a...
BALTIMORE — In a closely contested vote at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) fall plenary assembly in Baltimore on November 11, 2025, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City was elected as the new president of the USCCB. Coakley, who previously served as the conference’s secretary, edged out Bishop Daniel E....
It’s that time of year again, when we’re greeted at the grocery store by carts full of half-price Halloween candy before we pass the displays of cranberries in one aisle and candy canes in another. The day after Thanksgiving, those cranberries will be reduced for quick sale to make room for the Valentine’s...
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