Fr. Daniel Horan: Too often, the gospel that is preached by Christians in word and deed is not that of Jesus Christ, but of power, influence, politics, control and fear.
Book review: God, praised for benevolence, scolded for inscrutability, is a presence in Richard Russo's Empire Falls. "You probably suspect," Russo once told an audience, "I was an altar boy straight through high school."
Messages from Jim Forest and Kathy Kelly urged virtual attendees at the annual gathering, sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action and the Sacred Heart Peace Community, to persevere in the work for justice.
Much of Thomas Merton's writing on civil rights remained an afterthought, until the murder of George Floyd in May, and subsequent protests. 2020 has seen Catholics return to Merton's words on race.
Commentary: Jesuit Frs. Arrupe and Delp, born in 1907, were both political prisoners during World War II whose examples offer teachings we can apply this Advent.
Album review: One of the bright spots for me during the COVID-19 summer of 2020 was the unexpected release of a new Bob Dylan album in June. Once again, the singer-songwriter does not disappoint.
Soul Seeing: "One must want to begin." How true. That is what counts; maybe that is all that is required. To want to struggle for that freedom, whether it remains elusive or not.
As Catholic Worker and peace activist Clare Grady awaits sentencing for her participation in the Kings Bay Plowshares action, she says, "Is it time for lamenting or rejoicing? It's always time for both."
Soul Seeing: So many saints and spiritual mentors elected solitude, or had it imposed by circumstances. What kind of wisdom, I wondered, might they impart to "ordinary" people entering into this unfamiliar world?
