Conversion in CubaRe “A Tale of Two Countries,” by Miguel Díaz (9/21): It is beautiful and appropriate to wax poetic about mercy. We should all abide by these timeless truths. Yet the call of Christ is conversion. To simply plead for mercy in Cuba while not demanding conversion of the C

The Missing HalfMention of the ordination of women to the priesthood was conspicuously absent from the letters that were chosen to deliver to the pope, or at least the topic was not mentioned in “Dear Pope Francis,” by Elizabeth Groppe (9/14). I am certain Pope Francis is not so foolish

No to VouchersIn “Our Segregated Schools” (Editorial, 8/31) the editors call for the expansion of voucher programs as a way to combat segregation. What that suggestion misses is that Catholic schools are overwhelmingly not unionized. As such, the pay for teachers is significantly lower i

Taste, See, TouchTears came to my eyes on reading “Making Room for All at Mass,” by Judith Valente (8/17). I attempted teaching 12 young men with multiple handicaps at a state institution in Lincoln, Ill. I don’t know what they learned, but they responded best to touch, taste, smel

Separate IssuesRe “Selling the Unborn,” (Editorial, 8/17): The tragedy of abortion is a mother finding herself in a situation where she decides ending the life of her child is her best option. “Pro-life” is a euphemism for taking this hugely personal and difficult decision an

The Price of PowerRe “Of Many Things,” by Matt Malone, S.J. (8/3): Canon law as well as civil law in most jurisdictions makes the ordinary/diocesan bishop the actual owner or at least the principal trustee of all the property of the church, so that in many and varied actions that affect

Editors Note: The following letters were published in America between September 1945 and November 1946. We share them here to honor the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  NEED FOR POSTWAR CONTROLSEDITOR : I regret not writing you earlier about the excellent ar

Editor’s Note: This week’s Reply All section is dedicated to the many thoughtful responses to “After Obergefell" (Editorial, 7/20).Humility and Truth-TellingI found much prudential and sensible pastoral exhortation in America’s editorial on the Supreme Court decision reg

Troubled StarsRe “Mother and Sister Earth” (Editorial, 7/6): A Sufi teaching instructs: “To pluck a flower is to trouble a star.” Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” presents a very comprehensive view of the human impact on earth’s community

Wage TradeoffIn “L.A. Wage Wars” (Current Comment, 6/22), the editors write, “The argument for exempting union workers, however, is a bit more cynical.” The pressures being faced by Homeboy Industries are not isolated. The Congressional Budget Office report issued when Presid