James F. Keenan

When so many debates in the church involve sexual ethics, it's helpful to take a look at the history of such teaching and why it has been exclusively negative, says moral theologian Fr. James Keenan.

A conference in India reminded participants that they had been in an upper room, grieving the church and the world, but also learning to listen to one another to lead others forward on the synodal pathway.

Listening to transgender Catholics requires listening to learn what they want us to understand about their lives.

Commentary: The in-person conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council of Culture and the German Embassy to the Holy See examined urgent questions about the emergence of AI and what it means to be human.

Jesuit Fr. Jacquineau Azétsop, died Oct. 13 at age 49. The native of Camaroon was dean and professor at the School of Social Sciences at Pontifical Gregorian University and a prolific writer and researcher on health equity and bioethics. He had recently accepted an appointment as the 2023-24 Gasson Chair, Boston College's oldest and most distinctive visiting professorship.

Commentary: Attorney General William Barr has launched a spree of federal executions, and when most of the Catholic Supreme Court justices ruled to vacate stays of execution, they effected these killings.

Commentary: Our understanding of mercy is impoverished. Our social inclination to the common good at rock bottom. Resurrecting the common good seems to me as urgent as any matter related to the upcoming election.

Commentary: It was only in 1917 that the "new" Code of Canon Law decreed that cardinals had to be ordained, but the sacrament of orders does not bestow any particular competence. If Pope Francis is looking for competent judgment, could there not be women in his Council of Cardinals?

Commentary: U.S. Catholics could stand after the memorial acclamation, as a tangible expression of expectation that our clergy understand that they must develop reforms with the laity to protect minors.

Commentary: We don't need to wait for women to be ordained — there have been laypeople in the College of Cardinals before. Let women have a place at the table now.

I traveled with pastoral leaders and theologians across the U.S. to assist our bishops in discussing Pope Francis' 2016 apostolic exhortation on family life. Let me offer you seven takeaways.

Perspective: The exhortation is a beautiful, readable document that offers to help priestly and lay ministers in their outreach ministries to families. In my research, I found that in at least six countries, bishops and cardinals together with theologians had taken creative steps to share "The Joy of Love" with their people. Could our bishops do the same?