A few notable online items this week First an interview with George Coyne S J of the Vatican Observatory Fr Coyne explains how the Vatican became involved in astronomy and responds to Stephen Hawking s recent statements on the origins of the universe see minute 15 40 Kevin Clarke recently

Given that the Blessed John Henry Newman has only been approved for devotion in England and the optional memorial celebrating him approved for 9 October in the National Calendar for England alone it would obviously be very wrong and wicked for this Englishman to alert American Catholics to the exi

Politicians addressing their own religiosity is nothing new in this country for sure President John F Kennedy had to promise that his public policy would not be unduly influenced by his Roman Catholic faith which was seen as threatening to the American read WASP way of life in the 1960s More r

As part of my family is Jewish I am a Catholic theologian who participates not only in Catholic parish life but who also is a member of a synagogue I have not previously written about this part of my theological life but I thought it might be appropriate here on the America magazine blog to bri

It s impossible not to be moved by the terrible stories of the five youths who recently took their own lives because they were being harassed as gays and lesbians nbsp nbsp In New York the story of Tyler Clementi the Rutgers freshman who was filmed having a romantic encounter with another man wh

Francis of Assisi is a good example of why the legends should never overshadow the life, Father James Martin writes. For within his life lie many surprises awaiting those who are willing to meet Francis on his own terms.