via OSV News: A group of Catholic bishops recently traveled to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, in what trip organizers called a “powerful encounter” amid the nation’s long-running reckoning with racism. Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky, former chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and current committee chair retired Auxiliary Bishop… Read More US Bishops Visit Selma, Montgomery ..read more

via L’Osservatore Romano: On Monday morning, 8 April, Pope Francis met with relatives of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas since 7 October. The Holy See Press Office disclosed that the private meeting took place in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. Among those present were Bezalel Shnaider, aunt of Shiri Bibas, who was taken… Read More Pope Francis Meets with Relatives of Israeli Hostages Held by Hamas ..read more

Millennial writer Bethany Welch writes: During my novitiate with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia — a period of study, prayer and ministry in preparation for professing vows of poverty, chastity and obedience — we novices were asked to prepare semi-weekly reflections that expressed our understanding of content presented in workshops and classes. We… Read More Exploring the Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience Through Art ..read more

Check out these recent articles from around the web: The Theology of Social Democracy by Anthony Annett: “The two original pillars of social democracy were the welfare state and labor power. We need to restore both of those. We need a robust welfare state—funded by taxes on income, wealth, and inheritance—to protect people from economic… Read More Around the Web ..read more

via The Pope Video: In many parts of the world, women are treated like the first thing to get rid of. There are countries where women are forbidden to access aid, open a business, or go to school. In these places, they are subject to laws that make them dress a certain way. And in… Read More Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for April 2024: That the Dignity and Worth of Women Will be Recognized in Every Culture ..read more

Millennial Catholic Chris Crawford writes: We can recognize bravery while also embracing a more important truth: Bravery ceases to be virtuous when exercised in an unjust cause. We need not valorize the men who took up arms against the United States in defense of the system of slavery…. Lee left the fate of slavery in… Read More Antietam Doesn’t Need to Honor Robert E. Lee ..read more

via New York Encounter: A conversation on the questions, hopes, ideals, and concerns of today’s young adults with Tara Isabella Burton, author, and Fr. Patrick Gilger, assistant professor of sociology at Loyola University Chicago, moderated by Stephen Adubato, writer and educator In this change of epoch—to use an image dear to Pope Francis—there is no… Read More The Questions, Hopes, Ideals, and Concerns of Today’s Young Adults ..read more

via the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life: Eleven years ago Pope Francis stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with words of welcome and gestures of humility. He has spent the following years emphasizing that we are called to be a “poor Church for the poor” committed to the most… Read More The Francis Factor at 11 Years ..read more

via St. John’s CRS Global Campus Committee: Thousands of Nicaraguans have been forced into exile under the current government. They have seized the property of many Catholic religious orders, imprisoned Bishop Rolando Alvarez. On August 23, 2023, the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega declared the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) illegal, confiscating the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA)….… Read More Understanding What’s Going On: The Catholic Church in Nicaragua ..read more

On its 8th anniversary, here are 88 quotes from Pope Francis’ The Joy of Love: “The Joy of Love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church.” (1) “The triune God is a communion of love, and the family is its living refection.” (11) “The result of this union is that the two… Read More The Joy of Love ..read more