Faith Seeking Understanding

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

The ecological significance of the Eucharist

Jan 22, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: The Eucharist is not simply a means by which humanity receives the sacramental presence of Christ, it is the privileged place where God is now present to our world as part of that world.

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

by Daniel P. Horan

Jan 8, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: I thought about a column that imagined an optimistic decade ahead, and I wondered what it might look like to engage in a similar imaginative exercise for the church.

Christmas is for all God's creatures

by Daniel P. Horan

Dec 24, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: This Christmas may we recognize the cosmic significance of the Word becoming flesh, humbly recalling our place as fellow members of God's family of creation and working to respect, preserve, and protect our creaturely sisters and brothers in Christ.

Intellectual and spiritual blindness may be our greatest cultural problem

by Daniel P. Horan

Dec 11, 2019

While there are undoubtedly bad actors in our church and world, most people strive to do the right thing, seek a life of integrity, and wish to do no harm. So how do we end up with the messes we have before us?

Columns ›

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

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

Pages