Thomas Reese

Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese's column for Religion News Service, "Signs of the Times," appears regularly at National Catholic Reporter.

Reese entered the Jesuits in 1962 and was ordained in 1974. He was educated at St. Louis University, the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, and at the University of California Berkeley, where he received a Ph.D. in political science. He worked in Washington as a writer and lobbyist for tax reform from 1975 to 1978. He was an associate editor of America magazine, where he wrote on politics, economics and the Catholic Church, from 1978 to 1985 and editor-in-chief from 1998 to 2005. He was a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center from 1985 to 1998 and 2006 to 2013. During the summers, he works as a visiting scholar at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. 

While at Woodstock, he wrote the trilogy on the organization and politics of the church: Archbishop: Inside the Power Structure of the American Catholic Church (1989), A Flock of Shepherds: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops (1992), and Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church (1996). He also edited The Universal Catechism Reader (1990), an analysis of the first draft of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Episcopal Conferences: Historical, Canonical and Theological Studies (1989). He is also author of a NCR e-book, Caring for Our Common Home: A Readers’ Guide and Commentary on Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment (2015).

In 2014, Reese was appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission that reviews the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. He was reappointed to another two-year term in May 2016, and he was elected to a one-year term as chair of the commission in June 2016. His writings for NCR do not necessarily reflect the views of the commission.

Reese was senior analyst for the NCR from March 2013 to June 2017. He is based in Washington, D.C.

By this Author

Pope Francis' new papal encyclical could be derailed by its seemingly sexist title

Signs of the Times: I can see the headlines now: "Papal encyclical condemned as sexist." Groan!

Trump or Biden? What's a Catholic voter to do?

Signs of the Times: American Catholics are fighting over whether Joe Biden can be called a Catholic politician. Connected to this question is another: "Can a Catholic vote for Biden?"

In 'Life After the Pandemic,' Pope Francis hopes COVID-19 will change us

Signs of the Times: Since COVID-19 first began to spread, Pope Francis has been challenging Catholics and the world about the response to the pandemic. As a pastor, he's also offered us hope.

Five things Pope Francis should do while imprisoned by the pandemic

Signs of the Times: Pope Francis is at heart a pastor who likes to be with his people, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made that impossible. What should he do with all his extra time?

Catholic bishops reprimand Trump as often as they praise him

Signs of the Times: Many Americans assume the U.S. Catholic bishops are diehard supporters of Donald Trump, but on several issues, they strongly criticize the administration. 

COVID-19 crisis provides opportunities and grace

Signs of the Times: Despite the terrible impact of COVID-19 on us, in what ways could the coronavirus change work, families and church for the better?

COVID-19 is more than a public health challenge: It's a moral test

Signs of the Times: The time is already past to admit that the coronavirus pandemic in the United States is a moral crisis, not simply a public health and economic crisis. 

American exceptionalism needs a reboot

Signs of the Times: Going our own way, with total disregard for the desires and interests of other countries, we eschew multilateralism, whether in trade negotiations or dealing with climate change.

Religious conservatives have lost LGBTQ rights battle. It's time to surrender

Signs of the Times: Religious conservatives bet all their credibility on the Republican Party and President Donald Trump, who promised to appoint judges who would roll back the expansion of gay rights. This has been a costly bet that has alienated millions of young people from Christianity.

Four ways to tell a prophet from a political puppet

Signs of the Times: In the streets of Washington, D.C., we have seen religion used as a political prop and we have seen it exercise its prophetic voice.

My generation failed to deal with racism

I wish I could publish a blank column today. As a 75-year-old white guy, it is hard to know what to say in response to racism and police violence toward black men and women.

COVID-19 virus puts a spotlight on inequality and racism

America is experiencing a health crisis, but the pandemic has also spotlighted the moral crisis that afflicts our country. Until we care for all God's children, we will continue to be a nation that is sick in its soul.

Who would you choose, Jesus or the Spirit?

On May 21, we celebrate the Ascension, the day Jesus left the Earth. I think a lot of us would like to have him back. But Jesus did leave and gave us the Spirit. Was that a fair trade?

American Catholics, meet the Communion service

The expansion of Communion services will contribute to declericalization of the church. It will also allow parishioners to see how well or badly laypeople can preside at liturgical ceremonies.

Crowded into camps, refugees are sitting ducks for COVID-19

Refugees and displaced persons live under conditions ideal for the spread of COVID-19: packed together in tents or crowded into housing where social distancing is impossible.

Responding to COVID-19 is a marathon, not a sprint

Signs of the Times: Many believe that "normal" is just around the corner, this summer or at least next fall. The truth is that we will not get back to normal until the American population is protected from the virus by a vaccine.

How social distancing may change the way we do church

When you think about the mechanics of Sunday Eucharist, it's difficult to imagine a system better designed to spread contagion.

Bending the COVID-19 inequality curve

The wages of all essential workers should be immediately raised to at least $15 an hour, with government subsidies to businesses that need them.

Is Trump killing his supporters?

Has President Donald Trump put the lives of his supporters at risk because of his early downplaying of the coronavirus epidemic?

 

Released from quarantine into social distancing

If there ever was a time for people of all nations to join forces to work together for the common good, it is now. Until the virus is under control everywhere in the world, no one is safe.

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