The November 2002 elections were notable for at least two reasons. First, they improved the position of the party holding the White House in both chambers of Congressan almost unheard-of event in an off-year Congressional election. Republicans slightly increased their majority in the House of Repres
The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) set in motion gradually expanding sets of relationships between the Holy See and other Christian churches and communities. Because the United States is home to so many other Christian groupings, the ecumenical opportunities and challenges here have been greater t
My grandmother lived with us as I was growing up—a source of consolation who often shared her breakfast with me and who read to me when I was sick. Grandmothers not only play a supportive role in the lives of many children—in some cases they stand out as the single source of love amid ho
Firmly Resolve
The Sisters of St. Joseph taught me to say, I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. It strikes me that avoiding sin and amending life are the same, although I used to think that the resolution to confess
The U.S. Department of Justice reported in April that the incarcerated population of the United States has topped two million—men, women and yes, children too. Drug offenses account for a large proportion of those currently behind bars. Even low-level drug offenders regularly receive long sent
Perhaps no period in the history of ancient Israel is as controversial as the two centuries between the Exodus from Egypt and the establishment of kingship in the late 11th century B C E under Saul and his successor David Contemporary views run the gamut from essential acceptance of the biblical t
I have only once in my life lacked shelter I was visiting a friend in Rome to join him on a tour to Assisi He was supposed to book me a room at his hotel My friend a well-meaning but proverbial innocent abroad told me he figured to save me money if I shared his room He had obviously never hear