In an unprecedented move, over a dozen US Catholic bishops convened at St Louis University in January for a private meeting aimed at deepening their understanding of transgender people. The meeting sought to understand the challenges transgender people face. It included discussions with transgender individuals, their families, theologians, medical professionals and church ministry workers. The Read more
The United States Catholic bishops’ (USCCB) investment strategies are at odds with its passionate climate advocacy. In a statement at COP28, the USCCB committee called decarbonisation of the economy the “preeminent environmental challenge faced by all nations” that must be addressed without burdening middle-and low-income citizens with increased costs. However, according to Reuters, the US Read more
This weekend, Pope Francis published a series of tweets that linked environmental and social crises. This connection embodies the “integral ecology” that is a refrain of his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’.” The publication of “Laudato Si’” was a landmark moment in the fight against climate change. Secular environmentalists were encouraged to see such a prominent global Read more
Catholic groups in the US are concerned that a key omission in a bill supporting palliative and hospice care could allow federal funds to be used for practices like assisted dying. Last week the US House of Representatives passed the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act by voice vote. The bill funds efforts Read more
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs and the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church will conduct a nationwide assessment of the pastoral needs of Asian and Pasifika Catholics. The assessment will be conducted by a team of social scientists. It will seek the participation of pastoral Read more
Margaret Sullivan now wears the public editor hat at The New York Times and with a recent ombudsman column took on a huge media problem: False balance aka false equivalency. False balance reports are those that appear fair because they have two sides, except that one side reflects neither knowledge nor a right to speak. Reports on Catholicism are especially vulnerable Read more
Someone reminded me of this document put out by the USCCB on communion in 2006, which states: In virtue of our membership in the Catholic Church we are ordinarily free to receive Holy Communion. In fact, it is most desirable that we receive the Lord’s Body and Blood, so that Holy Communion stands out clearly as Read more