United States Archives

Is British or American view of Charlie Gard tragedy more Catholic?

A decision on Monday by the parents of Charlie Gard, an 11-month-old infant battling a rare genetic disorder, to drop their legal battle to purse experimental treatment and to “let our son go and be with the angels” leaves no one rejoicing. However, the question will have to be raised: Which is closer to a Catholic ethical standpoint — the American approach or the British?

Border bishop denounces hateful words, militarization of border

In a pastoral letter on migration, Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, encouraged faithful to welcome immigrants and refugees and acknowledge their plight. To people coming into the U.S. the bishop said not to be afraid and to remember that “We stand with you!”

Agree or not, it’s good to know what Vatican insiders think of America

Analysis

July 16, 2017

An article by two friends of Pope Francis arguing that a ‘Manichean vision’ underlies ‘a surprising ecumenism … between Evangelical fundamentalists and Catholic Integralists’ in the United States may be debatable, but it illustrates a time-honored Vatican take on America that neither this pope nor his advisers invented. (As a footnote, we might want to slow down before blaming the US bishops.)

Making parishes more personal by making personal parishes
- Interviews
- July 13, 2017
“National parishes” were common before 1920. They served the specific needs of ethnic Catholics, whether German, Polish, Portuguese, etc. Should the Church in the United States return to the model of “personal parishes” to better serve the specialized needs of the 21st century?
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In Catholic terms, anyway, US/Europe ties seem in good shape
- Analysis
- June 4, 2017
At a time when political ties between the United States and Europe seem to be unraveling, exacerbated by Trump’s recent decision to abandon the Paris climate change agreement, there’s a case to be made that in Catholic terms, the “Atlantic alliance” is actually strong and getting stronger.
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Philly’s Archbishop Chaput looks at living faith in America
- Church in the US, Commentary
- May 27, 2017
Religion in America is not just a matter for history class. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia points to the work of the great French observer of early American life, Alexis de Tocqueville, in concluding that the strength of American society was “the prevalence and intensity of religious belief.” In a new book, Chaput asks what happens when religion is no longer part of our shared common culture? In a word, what happens now?
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