Faith Seeking Understanding

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

The truth about so-called 'gender ideology'

Jun 24, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: The phrase "gender ideology" is used in both religious and secular contexts, but I am most interested in how it is deployed in Catholic circles to cause grave harm to people already made vulnerable in an unjust society.

Fr. Joshua Laws, pastor of the Catholic Community of South Baltimore, holds a "Black Lives Matter" sign before the start of an interfaith prayer vigil in Baltimore June 3 to pray for justice and peace following the May 25 death of George Floyd. (CNS)

When will the US bishops address the evil of systemic racism head-on?

by Daniel P. Horan

Jun 10, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: The urgency of the moment demands honesty; therefore I will be blunt: The 2018 U.S. bishops' "Open Wide Our Hearts" pastoral letter on racism has proven to be a worthless statement.

Physician Assistant Cori Kostick demonstrates the Brigham B-PROTECTED testing booth used to administer tests for COVID-19 at the Brigham and Women's Hospital community testing site in Boston May 5. (CNS/Reuters/Brian Snyder)

If COVID-19 frightens you, you should be terrified by climate change

by Daniel P. Horan

May 27, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: If you don't like the current reality of widespread illness, death, economic collapse and rolling lockdowns, then you should really direct your energies toward combating climate change.

Naming the dehumanizing agenda of some Christians

by Daniel P. Horan

May 13, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: It's worth remembering that the Gospels consistently portray Jesus Christ reserving his harshest criticism and condemnation for religious hypocrites. We have to hold one another accountable.

Columns ›

The truth about so-called 'gender ideology'

When will the US bishops address the evil of systemic racism head-on?

If COVID-19 frightens you, you should be terrified by climate change

Naming the dehumanizing agenda of some Christians

We are suffering a crisis of imagination in the church and world

As the suffering of many weighs on me, I'm learning to pray again

For the love of God (literally), stay home, be safe and pray

Communion of saints, an important tenet of our faith, can help during coronavirus times

What we need is an 'integral economy'

Integral ecology requires a larger 'seamless garment'

Commemorating Black History Month as a white Catholic

The ecological significance of the Eucharist

New year, new decade and a new chance for church renewal

Christmas is for all God's creatures

Intellectual and spiritual blindness may be our greatest cultural problem

Rehabilitate Thanksgiving and renew the practice of gratitude

Synodality isn't just an option, it's the only way to be church

St. John Henry Newman would approve of synod's final document

In his letter on racism, Seitz gets right what US bishops got wrong

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

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