Central governments must be able to respond to crises, writes Bill McCormick, S.J., but President Trump’s claim of “total” authority is a reminder that democracies must also be able to maintain limits on power.

The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed a kind of American Catholic exceptionalism, writes Michael Bayer. In fact, other Catholics, now and throughout history, have not had regular physical access to the sacraments.

The far right denounces the European Union as anti-Christian totalitarianism, but Michael Daniel Driessen writes that the E.U. has its roots in Catholic universalism and a suspicion of the nation-state.

The Trump administration is moving toward a new nuclear arms race with Russia, warns David Cortright of the University of Notre Dame, but there is still a chance to turn back.

“This may be the time,” he said, “to consider a universal basic wage.” This points to what is usually known as universal basic income—a regular, substantial cash payment to people just for being alive.

The coronavirus pandemic is inspiring works of wonder, writes Nathan Schneider, but will volunteers and activists have the energy to keep going after the worst has passed?