NCR Staff

Your thoughts: Last month, NCR published a three-part series by National Correspondent Heidi Schlumpf that focused on Matthew Kelly, an influential Catholic author and speaker. The series looked into his life, his finances and his program for parishes.

Pope's quotes: "It is not enough to experience God's mercy in our lives. It is necessary for those who receive it also to be a sign and instrument for others."

Pope's quotes: "When terrorists or world powers persecute Christian minorities or Christians, they do not ask: 'Are you Lutheran? Are you Orthodox? Are you Catholic? Are you Reformed? Are you Pentecostal?' "

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of December 2019.

Francis, the comic strip: Brother Leo finds a mysterious key. 

Pope's quotes: "Often we think that ecumenical work is only that of theologians. It is therefore important that theologians study, they agree, and they express their disagreement: this is very important."

Your thoughts: The saga of retired Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis and the question of priestly celibacy made for some interesting news a few weeks ago.

Pope's quotes: "The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting God's gifts."

Your thoughts: In two recent opinion pieces at NCR, the political aspects of the abortion debate were discussed, asking for a change in how we talk about abortion and pointing out how both sides are falling short.

The climate activist delivered a stern warning: "Our house is still on fire."

Pope's quotes: "To be able to offer thanks, to be able to praise the Lord for what He has done for us: this is important! So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying 'thank you'?"

Your thoughts: As the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump gets underway, it's a good time to remind NCR readers that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was chosen as our 2019 Newsmaker of the Year. 

Pope's quotes: "Praying the rosary does not remove us from the problems of life. On the contrary, it demands that we immerse ourselves in the history of each day, so as to grasp the signs of Christ’s presence in our midst."

Your thoughts: Two recent NCR Connections columns by executive editor Tom Roberts highlighted thoughts on the culture of clericalism by a Jesuit priest and a former Dominican priest.

Pope's quotes: "The prayer of the rosary is, in many ways, the synthesis of the history of God's mercy, which becomes a history of salvation for all who let themselves be shaped by grace."

Your thoughts: In case you missed it, NCR picked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as its 2019 Newsmaker of the Year. 

Pope's quotes: "If the outbound journey is letting my heart be wounded by the suffering of others, the trip through my heart is recognising my sin, my suffering, my lowliness and feeling I have been forgiven and have received the Lord's mercy, then the return journey begins, from the heart to the hands."

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of November 2019

Pope's quotes: "Some of you might ask me, 'Father, how does one feel mercy and not pity?' Well, first we need to ask for the grace to have mercy."

Your thoughts: Last week, NCR posted a piece by Don Clemmer on the role of eulogies at Catholic funerals in the Chicago Archdiocese. The revised guidelines were released by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich in November.