Faith Seeking Understanding

Franciscan Fr. Daniel P. Horan writes about politics, culture and theology in this column that appears twice a month.

The decolonial and intercultural hopes of the pan-Amazon synod

Oct 2, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: While media attention in the coming weeks will inevitably be preoccupied with those issues seen as most contentious and controversial at the synod, another kind of history-making shift may be underway shaping how the church understands itself and engages other traditions.

A statue of St. Francis of Assisi looks out from Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre, Italy. (Wikimedia Commons/Gianfranco Negri)

Beyond the 'birdbath industrial complex' is the radical St. Francis of Assisi

by Daniel P. Horan

Sep 18, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: St. Francis called all creatures — and not merely those nonhuman animals we classify as sentient, but rocks and trees alike — his sisters and brothers because, in a real sense, they are.

A glacier lagoon is seen in southern Iceland in July 2017. (CNS/Thomson Reuters Foundation/Thin Lei Win)

Climate change is the most important life issue today

by Daniel P. Horan

Sep 4, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: While I agree with the intellectual and moral integrity of the consistent ethic of life principle, which upholds that every human life — born and unborn — is inherently valuable, dignified and must be protected, we live in a time when a more fundamental issue threatens all life.

Sr. Helen Prejean's 'River of Fire' a wellspring of wisdom for all Christians

by Daniel P. Horan

Aug 21, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: St. Joseph Sr. Helen Prejean's memoir shows there is no singular point of decision in the Christian life. Rather, there is a constant need for ongoing conversion, growth and change guided by the Holy Spirit.

Columns ›

The decolonial and intercultural hopes of the pan-Amazon synod

Beyond the 'birdbath industrial complex' is the radical St. Francis of Assisi

Climate change is the most important life issue today

Sr. Helen Prejean's 'River of Fire' a wellspring of wisdom for all Christians

America is addicted to guns, and we're in denial

The church needs to be better at helping us be better Christians

Bishops and priests need more range

What's the path to true dialogue about gender in the church?

Confronting the 'monarchy of fear' with spiritual resistance

Going on pilgrimage, religious or secular, is important

Thomas Merton's counsel for Donald Trump (and the rest of us)

M. Shawn Copeland's retirement is a time to celebrate this friend of God

We should preach about the death penalty on Good Friday

The problematic rise of armchair theologians

The church is suffering from Holy Spirit atheism

Francis of Assisi's model for church reform may help in the abuse crisis

The bishops' letter fails to recognize that racism is a white problem

Speaking out on drug war, Philippine bishops model contrition, courage

Young people deserve to hear directly from Pope Francis on synod

Make the Catholic Church great again? There's no going back