After having taught Scripture for almost 50 years, I'm still puzzled by one constant phenomenon: Some people find God's inspired word to be one of the most important aspects of their faith, while others can live their faith very well without it.
One out of every three people raised Roman Catholic in the United States no longer identifies himself or herself as Catholic. Why?
WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH MUST CHANGE: A NECESSARY CONVERSATION
By Margaret Nutting Ralph
Published by Rowman & Littlefield, $34
When I began studying Scripture years ago, I also began giving some scriptural confessional penances. But I'd always first inquire, "Do you have a Bible?"
If there was any hesitancy in the response, I'd relieve the tension by lightheartedly suggesting, "Maybe, as a birthday gift next year, you could buy yourself a Bible. But in the meantime ..."
FROM THE BACK OF THE PEWS TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS: THE REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A SEGREGATED CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DEEP SOUTH
Edited by Robert McClory
Published by ACTA Publications, $14.95
Could the death penalty be dying? Have we had enough of the five methods of state-sanctioned killing: hanging, shooting, gassing, drugging and electrocuting? Are we finally agreeing with Harry Blackmun, who, before retiring from the Supreme Court in 1994, said that the death penalty should be unconstitutional in all cases?
MY BRIGHT ABYSS: MEDITATION OF A MODERN BELIEVER
By Christian Wiman
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $24
We say: Catholics mistrust bishops because they are not held accountable for their wrongdoing: They stay in office and are even promoted.
Mission Management: Since 1994, the Arrupe Program has collaborated with theologians and business leaders to explore the practical applications of business ethics.
As my colleague and friend Dennis Coday, NCR editor, reported in this space (NCR, Sept. 13-26), the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded the National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company a $2.3 million grant over three years to expand our coverage of women religious and to amplify Catholic sisters' voices around the globe. The grant will require some internal company changes as we work to build our coverage networks.
Soul Seeing: Henry David Thoreau asked, "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?"
Sign up to get NCR updates by email. Existing users: change your preferences here. Enter your email address in the box below and click “Go.”
