Long before the telephone radio television and the Internet folklorists claim a joke still traveled at roughly the speed of light For some reason call it human nature jokes rank high on the list of topics for social communication Societies prize a good comedian which can be seen from the

John McCain faces a well nigh impossible challenge over the next few weeks How to consolidate the conservative base which still broke for Mike Huckabee Tuesday in Texas without forfeiting his reputation as a maverick and his appeal to Independent voters Hillary Clinton s wins in Ohio and Texas

Walter M Abbott S J the New England province Jesuit and former associate editor of America probably best known for his work in editing The Documents of Vatican II a book that for many years remained the standard compilation of the writings of the Council died this morning He had lived f

Pope Benedict will visit the USA from April 16-20 He will of course meet numerous leaders and give a series of addresses including celebrating Masses in stadiums in DC and NYC Here is an invitation What do you think the Pope should say to American Catholics and thus also to the American publ

For Democrats the worst possible scenario has suddenly emerged as a likely scenario There is almost no way for Hillary Clinton to overtake Barack Obama s lead in pledged delegates But as the primary season winds down she may have the wind at her back and he might look like damaged goods Supe

Just when you thought the Texas prima-caucus system could not get any more complicated Anecdotal evidence and some early exit polls indicate that large numbers of Republicans are voting in the Democratic primary in Texas today presumably for Obama This mixes things up quite a bit because anyone w