Sobering histories, radiant memoirs, style-bending poetry, and a biography of Branch Rickey: Four writers (and Commonweal's editor) on the books that have entertained, challenged, touched, and surprised them this year.  

Four writers (and Commonweal's editor) on the books that have entertained, challenged, touched, and surprised them this year.  

Catholic attitudes toward sex and marriage have shifted dramatically over the past fifty years. How should the church respond, pastorally and doctrinally, to this growing disconnect between official teaching and the practice of individual Catholics?

Catholics, the Church & the Culture Wars

Obama Meets the Catholic Press

  Covering the pope

Some readers may recall that I have a serendipitous connection with Commonweal’s founding editor, Michael Williams (1877-1950). Williams lived, died, and is buried in Westport, Connecticut, the town where I grew up. Upon learning this, I went on a little expedition to find his grave (see “Our Man in Westport,” February 11, 2001). He’s buried not far from the elementary school I attended, and his funeral Mass was held in the church where I received my First Holy Communion and confirmation. Of all the unlikely occurrences related to my becoming editor of Commonweal, the fact that Williams and I had trod much of the same turf is the oddest.