I was deeply struck by Pope Benedict’s visit on Thursday to the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger Centre, a treatment facility for those suffering from chronic diseases and injuries. Cardinal Legereseved as Archbishop of Montreal from 1950-1968, and despite the many schools named after him in Quebec his name might be even more famous in Cameroon, ...read more

During this Lenten season we are called on to be extra generous in our material abundance. Many charities sponsor special drives and dioceses around the country make appeals for donations to support program that help feed the poor, clothe the sick and care for those in need. Indeed, The Catholic Encyclopedia says almsgiving implies a ...read more

My younger sister Emily often quipped “You should never kill yourself because 10 minutes later you might change your mind.” I thought of that truth when I recently read a news story and incredible photograph that spread like wildfire across the internet. Last month a 34 year old Coloradan attempted suicide by driving his van ...read more

Church observers on the state of religious freedom in China were watching carefully last week as The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva conducted two days of hearings on China’s human rights record. Many human rights activists were hoping that Beijing might make some concessions even though its government is not required to follow ...read more

The Vatican has released Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the 17th World Day of the Sick. This day of recognition takes place each year on February 11, the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes. This year’s message focuses on the plight of children around the world. For many of us blessed enough to think of ...read more

According to most economic forecasters the prognosis in 2009 is pretty dismal. Everday we are greeted with newspaper headlines informing us about massive layoffs, falling stock prices, and gut wrenching stories of young people unable to find work and retirees facing the loss of their life savings. The Catholic Church is not exempt from the ...read more

I was outraged today when I read the comments of Jonathon Porritt, Chairman of the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission, who said in an interview that families should be limited to two children in order to battle Global warming. According to Porritt families with more than two children are “irresponsible”. His commission is set to unveil ...read more

You may think a sport which celebrates violent collisions, bone jarring hits and jar dropping bravado would have little to do with faith. But when the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers square off in Super Bowl XLIII Sunday night there will be plenty of faith stories between the hashmarks. From Arizona Quarterback Kurt Warner’s unabashed ...read more

I am in Washington this week filming a future epsiode for the investigative series Eye on the Church (which returns to Salt + Light Television this spring). My visit just happened to coincide with two epic events: Tuesday’s inauguration of President Barack Obama and Thursday’s March for Life. One brought 1.8 million people chanting “Yes ...read more

Winston Churchill once said “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.” I recently read about a fascinating social experiment which seemed to confirm Churchill’s cynicism. On a cold January morning a man sat at a metro station in Washington DC, at ...read more