Don Clemmer

When a New Mexico bishop recently announced that he would celebrate cathedral Masses with his back to the people, his words acknowledged contention over liturgy that's been going on since Vatican II.

The commonness of mass shootings in the U.S. may inspire desensitization, but Catholics say they are not giving up on confronting the seeming inevitability of gun violence.

About 60 members of the national chapters of Democrats for Life of America met July 26-28 to discuss the future of the pro-life movement, particularly reaching the left-leaning millennial generation that is still surprisingly pro-life.

The Netflix series evinces a joy and a love for marginalized people as a makeover team of five gay men comes into the life of a stuck person and fosters his or her transformation. It is as a model of how the church could be engaging with the culture.

Pope Francis declared last month that Fr. Augustus Tolton lived a life of virtue; Tolton's cause has joined a number of U.S.-based causes that deal with racial issues in the country. Postulators see timely significance in the causes of these men and women.

Commentary: The importance of this issue -- one the church really can't afford to punt on any longer -- tracks with the increased importance Pope Francis has placed on synods.

Commentary: By applying eternal truth to the challenges of his day, Pope Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum laid down good habits for how the church approaches our entire mission.