Restorative Justice: Interview with Jim Consedine
The Rev. Jim Consedine, a priest in the Diocese of Christchurch in New Zealand, is national coordinator for his country’s Restorative Justice Network. A prison chaplain for 21 years, he is the author of two books: Restorative Justice: Healing the Effects of Crime (1995, 1999) and, with Helen B
Israeli Security and Human Rights
One of the perennial problems facing liberal democracies with a domestic security threat is how to meet that threat without sacrificing some of the very values that make the society liberal and democratic. The Israeli Supreme Court was recently confronted with precisely this issue, and the judgment
Walk Softly on Earth: The new asceticism
As wave after wave of poor immigrants pushed their way across the vast American continent, they thought they had discovered a land with unlimited resources. Through hard work and ingenuity, levels of comfort and luxury were gradually created that became the envy of the world.During this struggle for
Pelagianism – Wrong as Ever
The recent spate of self-help books has spilled over into self-help theology. We are exhorted to "have faith." We are invited to "make a decision for Christ." We are encouraged to "accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior." We are asked if we have "found Christ."
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
An older Jesuit once told me he felt that priests have a much harder life than laypeople. We’re always "on call," he explained, and have so many responsibilitiescelebrating Masses, hearing confessions, living in community, preparing homilies and the like. Laypeople can set their own
Letters
Letters
Catholicity as Catholic
The Rev. Richard P. McBrien’s presentation of reasons for not seeking a mandatum (2/12) seems to rival the proposed mandatum itself in its problematic character. Here I wish to note only two of the questionable aspects of the article.
1. The author wonders: Why are the mandates limited to…
Editorials
Priests With AIDS
A recent series of articles in The Kansas City Star on Catholic priests suffering from AIDS-related illnesses has focused attention on a difficult issue. Despite the incendiary nature of its topic, the seriesthough flawedaimed for balance and proved compelling. The survey’s main weaknesses lay
Books
Growing Poorly
Lives on the Line is a powerful account of what low-income Americans endure in their struggle to raise children in surroundings of poverty The detailed descriptions of these quot lives quot profiles of 10 families of diverse racial and geographical backgroundsare placed in meaningful context by th
Intelligence Battles
There are various ways to render the past in order to understand what has happened and why Some historians favor a scrutiny of political and military leadership and so regale their readers with accounts of decisive elections won wars fought victoriously or to no successful outcome all told with
Film
All About Mamacita: All About My Mother
On the eve of his 16th birthday, Esteban (Eloy Azorin) settles in on the living room sofa in front of the television set to watch the movie "All About Eve" (J. Mankiewicz, 1950) with his mother, Manuela (Cecilia Roth). He complains that the title has been rendered in Spanish as "Eve U
Poetry
Dog Almighty
He’d find a way through
The Word
Rest and Repent!
As Lent approaches this Sunday concludes the continuous reading of Mark which will not resume until the first week of July The Gospel portrays two Sabbath controversies which end with the plot of Pharisees and Herodians quot to destroy quot Jesus an anticipation of the Passiona helpful lead-i
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday inaugurates not simply the 40 days preceding Easter but the whole 90-day paschal cycle which extends beyond Easter seven weeks until Pentecost The Lectionary cycle grew backward and forward from the central celebration of Easter There is one mysterythe death of Jesus his resurrecti
Columns
Stay-at-Home Dad
This past year my wife and I grew weary of the vertiginous dance of dual-career parenting. In the end, I decided to surrender the professorial life in order to pursue nonacademic writing and be with my kids, who are one and three. Everyone has been very supportive: "You’re doing the right
Culture
Four Travelers’ Tales: Suggestions for Lenten Reading
Lent is just the right size. Forty days is enough time to get to know the desert and for most of us too little time to be swallowed by it. Guides are always welcome on the sometimes inconvenient, scary and unpredictable journey—including good books.
News
Signs of the Times
Report Says Hunger Can Be Halved in 15 YearsA new report from the Bread for the World Institute says world hunger can be cut in half over the next 15 years with the help of an extra U.S. contribution of $1 billion per year to nutrition programs. The trends in hunger eradication are promising, said…
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts