Ten years later, the lesson of Chapter 8 is clear: The church does not become less faithful when she discerns, but when she ceases to do so, Rafael Luciani writes.
When Jesus says, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them," he attaches no condition. He does not add "unless their parents are undocumented," or "provided they were born to citizens."
The church's preferential option for the poor and vulnerable implores each of us to pay particular attention to people with the least influence over the very institutions that shape their lives.
Too many Americans today fear that their votes do not count because they believe that elections can be stolen. That means churches need to help protect the electoral process and restore our faith in democracy.
Tremendous progress has been made toward eclipsing the role of the just war tradition in Catholic teaching, and moving peace-building, multilateralism and nonviolence toward the center, says D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy.
Seminary formation must prepare future priests to understand authority not as power exercised alone, but as a ministry of listening, discernment, responsibility and service within the whole people of God.
"The current administration has shown no real interest in arms control diplomacy … so the initiative for nuclear restraint and arms reduction will have to come from concerned citizens," David Cortright writes.
Two women now head major Vatican offices, and a third will soon. But the altar rail tells another story about their progress in the church, writes Phyllis Zagano.
