Life’s Tough Questions: Whether Christians should prioritise care for migrants as much as for fellow citizens has been debated for centuries
LAURA E ALEXANDER, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at long-standing tensions among Catholic – and other Christian – thinkers and practitioners about moral obligations to people with whom we have closer versus more distant relationships…
The Explainer: What the Catholic Church says about political violence and the need to forgive – even would-be assassins
JOANNE M PIERCE, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at how Catholic views on the morality of killing have evolved over time, embracing the idea of warfare for self-defence and the common good and emphasising forgiveness for enemies…
Essay: Pope Francis may have surprised many by inviting comedians to the Vatican, but the value of humour has deep roots in Catholic tradition
JOANNE M PIERCE, a specialist in medieval Christian history, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation – at how Christians have long embraced the role of humour as a valuable part of Christian spirituality…
Essay: It’s time to revive religious civil disobedience
In an article first published on Religion News Service, US commentator JOHN GEHRING, author and Catholic program director at Faith in Public Life, calls for a “revival of religious civil disobedience”…
Essay: The good, the bad and the merciful – Pope Francis after six years
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published by Religion News Service, looks at Pope Francis’ first six years as pontiff…
Sight-Seeing: Remembering Thomas Aquinas
BRIAN NIXON, in an article first published on ASSIST News Service, reflects on the lessons of Thomas Aquinas…