Faith Seeking Understanding

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

Bishops and priests need more range

Jul 10, 2019

As a church, we have generally rewarded specialization in the formation of our ordained ministers and discouraged breadth and range that might allow for a more open and creative pastoral responses. It's no wonder that church leaders struggle in responding boldly to many of today's most pressing social issues.

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

by Daniel P. Horan

Jun 26, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: The dialogue being called for in the recent Vatican document on "gender theory" is a false dialogue, one that makes no provision for the risk of genuine conversation.

Confronting the 'monarchy of fear' with spiritual resistance

by Daniel P. Horan

Jun 12, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: In the 2016 U.S. presidential election and what is now shared in common across the Atlantic in a trend toward nationalism is the use and abuse of fear.

Going on pilgrimage, religious or secular, is important

by Daniel P. Horan

May 29, 2019

Faith Seeking Understanding: I am writing this column beside the Sea of Galilee at a break during a Holy Land retreat that I am co-leading with Dominican Sr. Laurie Brink, who is a New Testament scholar. During my time here, I have been thinking a lot about pilgrimage and place and of their particularly theological significance.

Columns ›

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