Jesuit theologian and educator Michael Paul Gallagher died in Ireland on November 6 after a short illness. Fr Gallagher, 76, was a former Professor of Fundamental Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he was dean of the theology faculty from 2005 to 2008. Fr Gallagher also lectured in University College, Dublin, as well Read more
In a way, it was a form of posthumous martyrdom: the once distinguished Jesuit dying in humiliating circumstances, on an errand of mercy, his reputation in tatters and his Jesuit confrères unwilling to offer any defence of his actions. Cardinal Jean Daniélou was a Prince of the Church who had spent the first part of his Read more
It’s long been accused of adopting an at best ambiguous role in the fight against organised crime in Sicily, but the Catholic Church has now taken a symbolic stand against the Mafia in its Palermo heartland by refusing to give the sacraments to the son of a notorious Cosa Nostra crime lord. Despite protests from Read more
An interview with Fr.Robert Spitzer, SJ, president of the Magis Center, about faith, reason, atheism, and Stephen Hawking’s “hogwash”: Fr. Robert Spitzer, SJ, Ph.D., 62, is president of the Magis Center (www.magiscenter.com), headquartered in the new chancery office of the Diocese of Orange, California. The center’s goal is to demonstrate that faith and reason and Read more
A Jesuit preparing for ordination has left the Catholic Church over the way LGBTQ people are being treated by the Church in the United States. Benjamin Brenkert has written an open letter to Pope Francis calling on him to tell the US bishops to make Catholic institutions not sack any more LGBTQ Catholics. The last Read more
Over the years I have had numerous discussions with Catholic professionals around the country about making time for prayer and reflection during the busy work day. People have been interested in how I keep the Jesuit Daily Examen on my calendar, so I am sharing it here along with suggested times. The Examen is one Read more
Stress, it seems, is everywhere. Terrible news about stabbings, shootings, and crashes. People agonising over healthcare, fretting about unemployment, troubled by tuition payments, mortgage payments, car payments or other costs. So many people, it seems, are labouring to be at peace, groping for stable ground, living for the weekends. So many people, even those with Read more
A Dutch Jesuit priest who chose to stay in the beseiged city of Homs in Syria to care for its starving population has been shot dead. Fr Frans van der Lugt, a 75-year-old psychologist, had remained in the rebel-controlled Old City throughout a 600-day siege by government forces. He had been offered the chance to Read more
It has been a big year for the Jesuit Order around the world with the election of one of their own, Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina, as Pope Francis. It has also been a big year for the Jesuits in Australian politics, culminating in the election of Jesuit-educated Bill Shorten as leader of the opposition Labor Read more
As a Jesuit, I was overwhelmed by the interview of Pope Francis by my Jesuit brother, Fr. Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civilta Cattolica, a Jesuit journal based in Rome. Congratulations to Antonio, my former colleagues at America, and the 14 other Jesuit publications for this extraordinary exclusive. That all of these Jesuits could keep Read more