Priestly Diary

Formerly a parish priest, Fr. Peter Daly writes about living the faith while trying to be open to the world around us.

The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington Jan. 28 behind steel fencing topped with razor wire. (CNS/Reuters/Leah Millis)

What happened at the Capitol was not civil disobedience

Feb 15, 2021

Priestly Diary: In 1971, I was arrested at the U.S. Capitol. My protest was ethically different from the acts of terror at the Capitol last month. Both actions took place in the same building. There the similarity ends.

As a newly created cardinal, Theodore McCarrick addresses the media on the roof of the North American College in Rome following a consistory ceremony at the Vatican Feb. 21, 2001. (CNS/Carol Zimmermann)

McCarrick report shows former cardinal's character: ambitious, brazen, untouchable

by Fr. Peter Daly

Dec 8, 2020

Priestly Diary: In the 449 pages of the Vatican report, there are thousands of words and hundreds facts. But there is one number we should remember. Seventeen.

Attorney General William Barr is sworn in to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington July 28. (CNS/Reuters/Chip Somodevilla)

Honoring Barr this year, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast is so clearly a political event

by Fr. Peter Daly

Sep 10, 2020

Priestly Diary: Attorney General William Barr is to be given the Christifideles Laici award by the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Sept. 23. Really? How exactly does Barr as U.S. attorney general exemplify the teachings of the church?

I'm done with the Knights of Columbus

by Fr. Peter Daly

Jun 16, 2020

Priestly Diary: I have been a member of the Knights for 33 years. But now, I am quitting. Because the top brass injected the Knights into a partisan campaign at a moment of crisis in our national life.

Columns ›

What happened at the Capitol was not civil disobedience

McCarrick report shows former cardinal's character: ambitious, brazen, untouchable

Honoring Barr this year, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast is so clearly a political event

I'm done with the Knights of Columbus

My 'death box' has both practical and spiritual purpose

The church can offer courage, experience during this pandemic

D.C.'s quiet emphasizes value of community and consolation

Goodbye, climbers! We need to restore servant leadership in the priesthood

Bransfield extreme, but most US bishops have no meaningful spending controls

Confronting causes of clericalism: original sin, institutional dynamics

Tackle clericalism first when attempting priesthood reform

Celibacy advances the priesthood's culture of compromised truths

The priesthood is being crucified on the cross of celibacy

Before I take on clericalism, I will say: I love being a priest

We want to see humility, action, but I'm not expecting anything like that from the bishops

Clerical cronyism and secrecy shielded McCarrick and others

Confrontation time: Cardinal McCarrick and me in 2002

With McCarrick scandal, #MeToo arrives for the church

CLINIC is lifeline for immigrants and refugees

As a Catholic Charities volunteer, I head into immigration law thicket

Mary Dwan was the best that our Catholic Church can produce

Any rational immigration policy would want Jose as a citizen

Retirement is 'the real world' for me

With regret and relief, fatigue and gratitude, I'm retiring

Pages