Dialogue ... is essential
Dialogue with our Jewish sisters and brothers is also considered to be essential – “We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never been revoked, for ‘the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29)” (Evangelii Gaudiu...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Thursday, December 03, 2015
We must walk toward Christian unity
During our annual priest convocation in September, Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis was our presenter. In his opening conference, he shared an invitation he had received from the Methodist Bishop of Indiana to address his ministers and their wives during their annual conference. ...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Pope Francis insists on a Church-science dialogue
Pope Francis insists upon the importance of the Church dialoguing with scientists. “Faith is not fearful of reason; on the contrary, it seeks and trusts reason, since 'the light of reason and the light of faith both come from God' and cannot contradict each other” (Evangelii Gaud...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Thursday, November 05, 2015
The Church supports human dignity and the common good
Pope Francis writes that “the church does not have solutions for every particular issue ... she supports those programs which best respond to the dignity of each person and the common good” (Evangelii Gaudium 241). It was appalling to hear presidential candidates protest Po...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Thursday, October 08, 2015
God's presence shines forth through all lives of love
Whenever Christians live like Jesus, God’s Kingdom breaks into our world. However, the work of building God’s Kingdom is not limited to the actions of Christians alone. God remains sovereign and is free to choose to work through each and every person. Those who...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Monday, September 28, 2015
Pope Francis stresses dialogue for the common good
Pope Francis stresses the importance of Church dialogue between governments, society, culture (each of which is unique and espouses common and differing values and customs). He encourages dialogue with scientists, Christians of other denominations, and non-Christians. The purpose...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Pope Francis sees peace through order and justice
In Chapter Four (entitled “The Social Dimension of Evangelization”) of his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), Pope Francis writes about “The Common Good and Peace in Society.” He first describes what peac...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Pope Francis defines 'the most vulnerable'
Jesus’ care for the “little ones” (Matthew 25:40) – sinners, outcasts, and marginalized – “reminds us Christians that we are called to care for the vulnerable of the earth” (Evangelii Gaudium 209). Pope Francis identifies some of those who are...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Monday, August 17, 2015
Our 'new evangelization' must get to the root of social ills
The last three popes have called us to a “new evangelization.” Our faith is to be reawakened to the Gospel of Jesus so that we may become “missionary disciples,” which involves caring for the poor. Pope Francis says that we are to “find Christ...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Thursday, August 06, 2015
Living lives of mercy and justice
Throughout the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, God calls believers to lives of mercy and justice. The Prophet Micah proclaimed, “You have been told, O mortal, what … the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God...
Read full story »
Read full story »
Thursday, July 23, 2015