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Archive: This Catholic's View
Catholic bishops tilt to right
This is a clear signal that the bishops want to be active participants in the culture wars.
By Thomas J. Reese, S.J | November 16, 2010; 08:19 PM ET | Comments (54)
New leader for American Catholics
Will the new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops be a moderate or a culture warrior?
By Thomas J. Reese, S.J. | November 13, 2010; 11:34 AM ET | Comments (12)
Pope places his mark on College of Cardinals
This pope, like his predecessor, continues to appoint men who reflect his own views on theology and other issues facing the church. The likelihood of these conservative cardinals electing someone who would institute radical change in the church is extremely unlikely.
By Thomas J. Reese, S.J. | October 20, 2010; 07:30 PM ET | Comments (3)
Jesus in Arizona
How would immigration police respond to a savior with a Hispanic name?
By Thomas J. Reese | June 2, 2010; 03:58 PM ET | Comments (17)
Faith in God, not the market
Catholic tradition recognizes the market is not God and government has a role in moderating its negative effects.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 20, 2010; 12:57 PM ET | Comments (6)
Vatican questions nuclear deterrence
The conditions that allowed the Catholic Church to tolerate nuclear deterrence no longer apply.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 12, 2010; 01:04 PM ET | Comments (10)
Papal fallibility
Legion of Christ case exposes Vatican's flaws and failures of John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 3, 2010; 04:18 PM ET | Comments (40)
What matters in clerical abuse
Eight relevant questions the church hierarchy and the news media should be asking about each abuse case.
By Thomas J. Reese | April 14, 2010; 09:06 PM ET | Comments (25)
Benedict's failure and opportunity
The pope understands the crisis better than most cardinals, so his stepping down could be a step backwards.
By Thomas J. Reese | March 31, 2010; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (13)
What should bishops say now?
Passage of the Senate health care was a major defeat for U.S. Catholic bishops. How should the bishops respond?
By Thomas J. Reese | March 22, 2010; 01:56 PM ET | Comments (63)
Naïve sisters or paranoid bishops?
Neither sisters nor bishops have any special charism when it comes to interpreting legislative language.
By Thomas J. Reese | March 18, 2010; 08:41 PM ET | Comments (4)
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
We should make sure that every penny in a job bills is not wasted. The economy should be by "people-centered."
By Thomas J. Reese | February 12, 2010; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (3)
A tax you (and Creation) should love
Oil is God's gift to us and future generations. If we use it to ruin the environment, we have failed God.
By Thomas J. Reese | February 3, 2010; 05:36 PM ET | Comments (8)
A world of despair
War. Economic collapse. Natural calamity. Partisan gridlock. Living in a global village sucks. Where is God?
By Thomas J. Reese | January 25, 2010; 12:02 PM ET | Comments (18)
America's debt to Catholic sisters
Smithsonian exhibit reminds us of all the orphanages, hospitals, schools and welfare programs run by Sisters.
By Thomas J. Reese | January 15, 2010; 03:58 PM ET | Comments (1)
The scandal of gloomy Christians
Why are Christians so gloomy when our faith in the resurrection is a belief that justice and love will triumph?
By Thomas J. Reese | December 14, 2009; 02:14 PM ET | Comments (24)
Catholic Charities, gays and DC's poor
The city has a right to set conditions on agencies that receive public money. The church has a right to say, "No, thanks."
By Thomas J. Reese | November 13, 2009; 01:06 PM ET | Comments (80)
Beyond abortion to universal care
With the abortion issue dealt with, Catholic bishops can now speak strongly in support of universal health care.
By Thomas J. Reese | November 10, 2009; 08:13 AM ET | Comments (18)
"Love the alien as yourself"
The immigration debate says as much about us as a country and a people of faith as it does about the immigrants.
By Thomas J. Reese | November 4, 2009; 11:52 AM ET | Comments (65)
Vatican welcoming only the right?
The right side of the Vatican's new "big tent" has a "Welcome" sign, but the left side has an "Exit Only" sign.
By Thomas J. Reese | October 27, 2009; 11:53 AM ET | Comments (14)
Pope's Anglican welcome could revolutionize the Church
The Vatican's opening for Anglicans may provide the Catholic Church a steady supply of married priests.
By Thomas J. Reese | October 20, 2009; 11:56 PM ET | Comments (57)
Catholic Bishops' Advice on Afghanistan
Bishops encourage Obama to shift US. involvement from military to diplomacy and development.
By Thomas J. Reese | October 15, 2009; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (6)
3.1 Million Potential Orphans
This is a policy that should outrage conservatives: "Big Government Takes Parents from Children and Makes Them Wards of the State."
By Thomas J. Reese | October 7, 2009; 11:23 AM ET | Comments (6)
Father Polanski Would Go to Jail
The Church was rightly scrutinized when 4 percent of its priests were involved in abuse. What about the film industry?
By Thomas J. Reese | September 28, 2009; 05:33 AM ET | Comments (46)
Energy Taxes and Regulations
Two ways to reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions: Taxes and regulations. Neither is evil.
By Thomas J. Reese | September 22, 2009; 04:55 AM ET | Comments (17)
The Green Pope
Pope Benedict calls for "a worldwide redistribution of energy resources." Socialism or Christianity?
By Thomas J. Reese | September 15, 2009; 04:39 PM ET | Comments (48)
Bishops Want Health-Care Reform
The bishops do not want an abortion fight in the health care debate. What they do want is health care for all.
By Thomas J. Reese | September 8, 2009; 11:17 PM ET | Comments (24)
God Wants More for Us
The recession is not simply the result of economic mismanagement. At heart, it is the result of a moral failure, our failure as consumers and a country to live within our means.
By Thomas J. Reese | August 5, 2009; 01:22 PM ET | Comments (6)
Depressing Health Care Debate
Watching Washington debate health care reform is depressing. The problem is voters prefer lies to truth.
By Thomas J. Reese | July 28, 2009; 02:33 PM ET | Comments (11)
Obama and Pope Have Cordial Meeting
A Vatican spokesman said the pope was "very impressed" by Obama who was "attentive and ready to listen."
By Thomas J. Reese | July 10, 2009; 02:53 PM ET | Comments (0)
Pope Benedict on Economic Justice
Benedict calls for a radical rethinking of economics guided not by profits but by "an ethics which is people-centered."
By Thomas J. Reese | July 7, 2009; 01:14 AM ET | Comments (60)
Obama and Benedict
When the president and the pope meet later this month, they will have much to talk about and agree on.
By Thomas J. Reese | July 2, 2009; 05:19 PM ET | Comments (1)
Pope's Delayed Message on Greed
Conservatives will be shocked by Benedict's skepticism toward unbridled capitalism based on greed.
By Thomas J. Reese | June 23, 2009; 09:06 AM ET | Comments (40)
The Bishops' Dispirited Agenda
When U.S. bishops meet next week, how to interact with the Obama administration won't be on the agenda.
By Thomas J. Reese | June 16, 2009; 01:19 PM ET | Comments (44)
Our Pragmatic President
In the campaign, at Notre Dame and at Cairo, Obama is deftly challenging the myths that have failed us.
By Thomas J. Reese, S.J. | June 9, 2009; 09:32 AM ET | Comments (21)
Ignore Randall Terry
Randall Terry speaks for no one but himself and other extremists, he is not the legitimate face of the pro-life movement.
By Thomas J. Reese | June 2, 2009; 10:01 AM ET | Comments (80)
Las Nuevas Caras del Catolicismo Americano
Obama taps Hispanic Catholic community for two important nominations this week: Sonia Sotomayor and Miguel Diaz.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 27, 2009; 11:19 PM ET | Comments (53)
He Came, He Spoke, He Conquered
A new generation of Catholics is looking for a leader who addresses complexity with honesty, acknowledges disagreements and tries to bring people together for the common good.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 17, 2009; 05:15 PM ET | Comments (183)
Consciences in Conflict
New rules must respect the right of conscience of health care workers and the rights of the rape victim.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 12, 2009; 04:34 PM ET | Comments (13)
Memo to Bishops: Most Catholics Aren't Listening
Part of the problem is that the bishops stopped listening and teaching and started ordering and condemning.
By Thomas J. Reese | May 5, 2009; 04:44 PM ET | Comments (132)
"Authentic Common Ground on Abortion"
Despite their total opposition to abortion, Catholic bishops support an abortion reduction bill sponsored by Democrats for Life.
By Thomas J. Reese | April 28, 2009; 03:41 PM ET | Comments (45)
A Pro-Choice Ambassador to the Vatican?
Claims that the Vatican has rejected Obama's ambassador are bogus. He does not have to send a pro-life Catholic to the Holy See.
By Thomas J. Reese | April 20, 2009; 04:58 PM ET | Comments (12)
Prof. Obama Comes to Georgetown
Crowds ignore conservative Catholic critics, swarm Georgetown University to hear Obama speak.
By Thomas J. Reese | April 14, 2009; 06:18 PM ET | Comments (10)
Holy Week: The Week Jesus Failed
Jesus failed to convince even his disciples, but went on -- a Holy Week lesson of hope to us all.
By Thomas J. Reese | April 8, 2009; 10:57 AM ET | Comments (2)
Pope, Condoms and AIDS
What the Pope says about condoms will have little impact on whether men will use them in Africa or anywhere else.
By Thomas J. Reese | March 31, 2009; 09:19 AM ET | Comments (33)
Notre Dame Right to Invite Obama
Notre Dame is not honoring Obama because of his views on abortion but because he is President of the United States
By Thomas J. Reese | March 24, 2009; 12:03 AM ET | Comments (226)
Pope: "I Deeply Regret...."
Pope Benedict has displayed refreshing candor in admitting mistakes, apologizing and explaining.
By Thomas J. Reese | March 17, 2009; 11:16 AM ET | Comments (40)
Limit, Then End Embryonic Stem Cell Study
Once the process of developing adult stem cells for treatments has been shown to be safe and reliable, any research in embryonic stem cells should be able to move seamlessly into the use of adult stem cells leaving the ethical problems behind.
By Thomas J. Reese | March 7, 2009; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (469)
