BARCELONA Ask an observer about Spanish religion and politics and most people will mention two Spains one left-wing and anti-Catholic the other Catholic and politically conservative That polarization existed long before the Civil War and was reinforced by Franco wrapping himself in the flag

Powerful stuff and required reading from Peter Steinfels over at Commonweal on the leave-taking of Catholics from their church nbsp Why have I spent so much time on those of Catholic upbringing who have left the church First because the numbers are not trivial to put it mildly ldquo Catholi

A conscience may be certain, but that does not mean it is correct.

Expert at Work Re “A Visitor’s Guide,” by Doris Gottemoeller, R.S.M. (11/23): It is no surprise that such a balanced, thoughtful and challenging article would be the work of Sister Doris Gottemoeller. Her insights reflect the manner in which she has exercised leadership roles in ma

More Than Disagreeing Thank you for the excellent commentary (“Slandering the President,” by John Kavanaugh,S.J., 11/23). I’ve been waiting for the Catholic hierarchy to make similar statements about these sins of slander, calumny and libel. No matter what the side and what the rea

The USCCB begins its annual plenary session today in Baltimore On the formal agenda the bishops will consider a proposed pastoral letter on marriage which they should scrap and start over and the final approval of Mass translations some are good some not so good but it is past time to fight ov

Much attention has rightly been focussed on the irrational aspects of right-wing protesters especially those whose irrationality is rooted in racism But the Left has its irrationalities as well and some of them are on full display these days The most obvious was the sad spectacle of the rostrum

I almost feel sorry for Deal Hudson His world is crashing down or at least that is the impression one garners from reading his post of a few days back about the presence of two princes of the Church at the obsequies for Sen Kennedy and the almost simultaneous resignation of Scranton rsquo s Bisho