Faith Seeking Understanding

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

The church teaches that purpose of government is the common good. Period.

Jan 20, 2021

Faith Seeking Understanding: The government is not intended to prioritize "individual liberties" over communal flourishing, as so many right-leaning Americans wish, nor is the state intended by the church's teaching to be a hegemonic force for sectarian norms and partisan preferences.

Angela of Foligno, depicted in a 17th-century illustration (Wikimedia Commons)

Turn to St. Angela of Foligno for spiritual guidance in the new year

by Daniel P. Horan

Jan 6, 2021

Faith Seeking Understanding: St. Angela of Foligno was someone that women and men, lay and religious, sought out for insight — both spiritual and practical. She makes for a great wisdom figure in our own time, too.

Detail of "The Miracle of the Palm Tree on the Flight to Egypt,"circa 1490–1510 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Christmas is about celebrating the humanity of God

by Daniel P. Horan

Dec 23, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: I believe that one of the best guides for reflecting on the humanity of God is a not-too-well-known spiritual treatise by St. Bonaventure, the medieval Franciscan theologian and doctor of the church.

Students from Catholic schools in the Washington Archdiocese stand outside St. Patrick's Church in Washington Sept. 20, 2019, where about 200 of them had gathered to pray prior to the climate change rally in front of the Capitol. (CNS/Carol Zimmerman)

Biden administration's climate agenda reflects spirit of Laudato Si'

by Daniel P. Horan

Dec 9, 2020

Faith Seeking Understanding: The incoming Biden administration is offering us a small sliver of pro-life hope when it comes to climate change, which should be supported and celebrated by Catholics.

Columns ›

The church teaches that purpose of government is the common good. Period.

Turn to St. Angela of Foligno for spiritual guidance in the new year

Christmas is about celebrating the humanity of God

Biden administration's climate agenda reflects spirit of Laudato Si'

My reluctant gratitude for technology this Thanksgiving

The audacious return of hope

We can only move forward if we acknowledge 'dangerous memories'

Australian bishops get it right on mental health

Trump's coronavirus response a case study in toxic masculinity

Relationship leads us to peace: Three key Franciscan themes in 'Fratelli Tutti'

Systemic impunity for police parallels clerical protection of abusers

The complicated reality of Catholic bishops on Twitter

This 'Season of Creation' demands attention to environmental racism

The heresy of oversimplified Christianity

The importance and challenge of doing nothing

Running while white

The preferential option for the removal of statues

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

Pages