We experience now a church where the laity matter—where, for example, a New York Times columnist without any church title can have a voice.

To act like there are no open questions about the council’s relationship to the state of the church is an act of denialism and pearl-clutching.

How many of us know real-world cheaters who have just plain gotten ahead, not despite their short-cutting but because of it?

Are there extremists on the fringe of the pro-life movement? Yes. But on the pro-abortion side, extremism is very much in the driver’s seat—and mainstream media protect it through bias and misinformation.

Those counseling abortion after a rape offer the vain hope that more violence will bring peace to the victim. But no mother needs to become the agent of death for her own child.

Investing for profit can be a Catholic virtue if the common good is kept in mind. So look for companies that provide the things essential for everyday life, like food and housing.