Initiative for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life Archives

By pledging $100 million for slave descendants, Jesuits are ‘owning’ their history

May 4, 2021

For two descendants of slaves sold by the Jesuits in the 19th century, George Floyd’s death at the hands of disgraced Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last May served as a reminder of what their ancestors endured, and how far the country still has to go.

By John Lavenburg

Cardinals O’Malley, Turkson defend Vatican same-sex blessing ban

Mar 20, 2021

Two Cardinals Wednesday defended a recent Vatican decree that restated the churches stance against the blessing of same-sex couples, by invoking the teachings of the church that the sacrament of marriage is between a man and a woman.

By John Lavenburg

Panelists urge respect for human dignity as nation tackles poverty

Mar 2, 2021

Lorena Melgarejo remembers a time after her husband died that she couldn’t always be there for her three-year-old child because she couldn’t sacrifice her income.

By John Lavenburg

Panel addresses healing after strife and how Catholics can move forward

Feb 13, 2021

A Catholic panel analyzing a path forward during moments of strife or of social sin said the only way to move ahead as a society toward healing is to recognize the damage done to a person or communities, to lay the truth out for everyone to see.

By Rhina Guidos

On President Biden, bishop warns against ‘weaponization of Eucharist’

Feb 2, 2021

For Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, the way U.S. bishops should approach President Joe Biden and important issues can in part be answered through a question his mother used to ask: “what would Jesus do?”

By John Lavenburg

Answer for a divided nation isn’t a divided church, panel says

Jan 16, 2021

10 days removed from an attempted siege of the Capitol building, as tensions continue to run high across the country, Rev. Eugene Cho makes it clear: “the answer to a divided nation is not a divided church and that’s what we’re seeing.”

By John Lavenburg

Catholic leaders decry Trump’s 11th-hour spate of federal executions

Jan 9, 2021

To Sister Helen Prejean, the first stand a Catholic takes against the death penalty in the United States doesn’t need to be grand. In fact, she believes all it takes is a desire, and a pen, to start on the path towards change.

By John Lavenburg

Panel: Amid election angst, Christians can vote, log off, and be quiet

Nov 1, 2020

If there’s one thing that Republican and Democrats in the 2020 election share, it’s angst.

This year’s election, amid a pandemic, amid economic instability and distrust of institutions, has done little to bring out the best in the country’s political animals.

By Rhina Guidos