Bishops
A Language of Solidarity
Robert N. Bellah, who died in July, was a contributor to Commonweal for more than twenty years. Here are excerpts from some of his articles.
The Truth about Marriage
Will severing the connection marriage has forged between sex, procreation, and family formation undermine the expectations our culture places on the institution?
'Catholics Are Different'
Over the course of six decades, Fr. Andrew M. Greeley—who died on May 30—wrote regularly for Commonweal. Here are excerpts from just some of his articles.
Accountability Gap
From Los Angeles to Newark, recent news reports raise questions about the bishops’ commitment to the Dallas sexual-abuse reforms they adopted in 2002.
The Big Dig
Last fall, the Archdiocese of Boston released an ambitious plan designed to stem the decline it has experienced—in priests, Mass attendance, and treasure...
More Mission, Less Maintenance
In March of 1979, Pope John Paul II opened his first encyclical, Redemptor hominis, with these words: “The Redeemer of humanity, Jesus Christ, is the center...
Why ‘Francis’?
Of the many virtues associated with St. Francis of Assisi, humility was the first to occur to me as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio stood before the multitude for...
Reading the Tea Leaves
Many of the groups challenging the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act on religious-liberty grounds hang their hopes on one Supreme Court case:...
A New Center of Gravity
In winning election as Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio defied the papal pundits, even though they should have seen him coming. His rise marks the decisive shift...
Regime Change
[Editor's note: William L. Portier's and Richard R. Gaillardetz's are the final in a special series of stories we are posting as the cardinals gather for the...
Letting Go
For Catholics and non-catholics alike, Pope Benedict's resignation -- a gesture of relinquishing power -- was done for the good of all.
When in Rome...
It's been a long time since I have read a book about the church that made me laugh out loud. In The Vatican Diaries, John Thavis presents many stories that will...
