U.S. Catholic blog

No Foxconn from Apple?

Kevin Clarke — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:58:52 +0000

The Apple/Foxconn saga continues to take interesting turns. If you haven't been following the story, Apple computer has been taking a beating in the U.S. press, mostly courtesy of the NY Times, regarding the treatment of the overseas workers who put most of its gleaming gadgets and awe-inspiring computers together.

Lent Day 4: Thomas Moore

Online Editor — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

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Each day of Lent (minus Sundays) we'll bring you words of wisdom from spiritual guides.

4. Thomas Moore: Cleansing the soul

Daily Links, Feb. 24: State laws, bishops and attorneys general, the Pill as medicine

Meghan Murphy-Gill — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:51:11 +0000

Yesterday during an interview in our offices, we were reminded how several dioceses have entered into arrangements with states’ attorneys, in order to avoid prosecution over sex abuse cases. In Manchester, New Hampshire for example, auditors from the attorney general’s office review personnel and office records every five years, yet we’ve heard nary a peep from the bishops about this voluntary relinquishing of religious liberty.

Competing moral interests in the contraception mandate controversy

Scott Alessi — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:09:37 +0000

You may have heard about the distinct lack of women's voices at last week's House committee hearing on the contraception mandate, in particular the case of one woman who was d

Lent Day 3: Mother Teresa

Online Editor — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

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Each day of Lent (minus Sundays) we'll bring you words of wisdom from spiritual guides.

3. Mother Teresa: Dying and rising
Lord, help us to see in your Crucifixion and Resurrection an example of how to endure and seemingly to die in the agony and conflict of daily life so that we may live more fully and creatively.

Daily Links, Feb. 23: Santorum's faith, birth control, and those controversial Girl Scouts

Scott Alessi — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:44:36 +0000

There was yet another Republican debate last night, and Rick Santorum continues to be the focus of attention, especially when it comes to his Catholic faith. Andrew Sullivan takes Santorum to task for his stance on torture, which clearly stands in opposition to the church's teaching on human dignity.

Lent Day 2: Joyce Rupp

Online Editor — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Each day of Lent (minus Sundays) we'll bring you words of wisdom from spiritual guides.

2. Joyce Rupp: Focus on one thing only

Daily Links, Feb. 22: Ashes, ashes

Meghan Murphy-Gill — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:23:11 +0000

Today marks the beginning of the 40-day journey through Lent to Easter, and ashes are seemingly the only thing that can get the country to utter the words “church”, “Catholic Church”, or "bishops" and not include the phrase “contraception mandate” in the same sentence. So that's good.

"Ashes to go": Starting Lent at the train station?

Bryan Cones — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:12:59 +0000

Local Episcopal churches here in Chicago have started distributing ashes a commuter rail and L stations here in Chicago on Ash Wednesday--complete with cassocks, surplices, and stoles for the ordained. Bold and gutsy, I thought. How did people respond?

Parish firing of gay employee anything but pastoral

Scott Alessi — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:27:54 +0000

We all know the Catholic Church is opposed to same-sex marriage, and most would agree the church shouldn't (and likely wouldn't) ever be forced to officiate weddings between members of the same sex. But does that mean the church should fire an employee who takes advantage of a state's legal recognition of gay marriage?

Lent Day 1: Henri Nouwen

Online Editor — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Each day of Lent (minus Sundays) we'll bring you words of wisdom from spiritual guides.

1. Henri J. M. Nouwen: An Ash Wednesday prayer
How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death?

Daily Links, Feb. 21: Happy Mardi Gras!

Liz Lefebvre — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:22:33 +0000

Happy Fat Tuesday! Hope you are enjoying your day of eating and merriment, perhaps loading up on dessert before our journey into Lent's desert. Speaking of overindulging...there was this.

Food for thought on Fat Tuesday

Liz Lefebvre — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:17:43 +0000

The best thing about Fat Tuesday during college was definitely the veritable smorgasbord of a dessert buffet that the dining hall put out every year, topped off with a chocolate fondue with strawberries and pound cakes for dipping.

Foreign guest workers get new protections

Father Tom Joyce CMF — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:21:51 +0000

The various guest worker programs are a small part of the immigration “problem,” but a very significant one. Much of undocumented migration comes because employers often skirt the law and recruit and hire cheaper, undocumented laborers rather than go through government programs. It’s less hassle and gives the employer more control over workers. It’s also a field that replete with abuse. I cut my baby teeth on the issue in the 1960s. We were agitating to end the Bracero program—a World War II effort to recruit Mexican farm laborers to feed America.

Daily links, Fri., Feb. 17, 2012: Will Miss Manners please express an opinion about the contraception mandate?

Bryan Cones — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:35:38 +0000

I figure Judith Martin might have some helpful tips on how to discuss this in a way both polite and discreet. Plus, she seems to be the only person of note without a published opinion on the matter.

A bishop who can speak without shouting: Blase Cupich's reasonable voice on the mandate

Bryan Cones — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:06:35 +0000

As the media continues to follow NYC's "rock star" Archbishop Timothy Dolan to Rome to get his red hat, Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington is doing what really matters: Dialing back the rhetoric over the HHS mandate and offering some meaningful beginnings to dialogue about not only this issue but the relationship between religion and government in a pluralistic society.

Daily Links, Feb. 16: Bishops, unions, and teachings

Liz Lefebvre — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:40:20 +0000

Today the House held its hearing on religious freedom. How did things go?

For the bishops, much to lose in the contraception kerfuffle

Bryan Cones — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:21:14 +0000

The battle lines keep shifting on the contraception front: Catholic Charities USA denies that it has endorsed the Obama administration's "accomodation" for religiously affiliated social service, health, and educational institutions.

Lessons learned from the 2012 CSMG

Scott Alessi — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:16:21 +0000

Sitting in the airport as I prepare to leave Washington, D.C., I have a few moments to reflect on this week’s Catholic Social Ministry Gathering. A few final thoughts/observations to wrap up the week:

Daily Links Feb. 15: In other news edition

Meghan Murphy-Gill — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:16:19 +0000

Mexican bishops, like their U.S. counterparts, offered a list of voter guidelines that is drawing some criticism. Mexican Law prohibits church involvement in electoral politics. The guidelines don’t issue directives, but emphasize the importance of church teaching for Catholic voters.