Mere “survival should not be the utmost ambition for a people in democratic countries, but rather prosperity and welfare. I believe that Israel is going to be more Jewish and much less democratic, and we’ll all pay the price for that.”

John T. Noonan, a consummate polymath, was perhaps one of the most lauded, influential and recognizable Catholics engaged in the public square in the last 50 years.

Viewed in the aftermath of the over-hyped midterm elections, Pope Francis’ description of the distortion of politics sounds pretty accurate.

For the Christian, hope is the virtue that lives where optimism claims to abide: trust in the assurance of God’s fidelity and the belief that we can participate in God’s faithful action in the world.

Let us all pause to imagine Donald J. Trump saying, “I can only ask your forgiveness” to anyone.

Describing herself as “a devout Catholic” and invoking the prayer of St. Francis, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday that she will not seek a Democratic leadership post in the next Congress.