| Cover
story -- Law in exile |
By
John L. Allen Jr.
Law finds normality in an unremarkable role in Rome.
Full story
In Boston, signs of gradual recovery emerge
By
NCR Staff
Five years after Cardinal Bernard Law left Boston in the wake of one the
most horrific scandals in the history of U.S. Catholicism, signs of gradual
recovery are emerging. Most notably, the Boston archdiocese recently announced
that the Catholic Appeal, its principal annual fundraising effort, raised $14.5
million in 2007, a 5 percent increase over the year before.
Full story
St. Mary Major is the right place for penance
By
John L. Allen Jr.
Cardinal Bernard Law’s appointment as archpriest of the Basilica of
Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in May 2004 reflected a consensus that, following
his resignation in Boston, he could not remain in the States. The
Vatican’s solution: an available post at St Maria Maggiore, or St. Mary
Major in English, became Law’s “golden parachute” in Rome.
Full story
By
Barbara J. Fraser
On a rainy morning in August, dozens of men and
women crowded into the tiny church in the farming community of El Carmen de la
Frontera, in the mountains of northern Peru. Foremost among their worries was a
mining company prospecting for copper high in the cloud forest near the border
with Ecuador.
Full story
Church leaders defend environment despite risks
By
Barbara J. Fraser
At a time when Latin American church leaders are increasingly under fire
for their defense of the environment, the May 2007 conference of bishops in
Aparecida, Brazil, may be remembered as much for its call for stewardship of
creation as for its reaffirmation of the option for the poor.
Full story
By
John L. Allen Jr.
African Christianity must come to terms with 'the contagion of
tribalism.'
Full story
By
Robert McClory
It has been more than 45 years since Sr. Antona Ebo became the first
African-American nun to take part in the historic voting rights demonstrations
and marches in Selma, Ala. But Ebo, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary,
now 83 and battling lymphoma, has lost none of her zeal. She seemed to be
almost channeling Dr. Martin Luther King in her impassioned, wide-ranging talk
at the Catholic Theological Union Jan. 9. “Why do they tell us to keep the
dream alive?” she asked. “That was Martin’s dream, for his time.
Where are the dreams now, where are the dreamers for today? He told us
we’d waited too long. Well, we’re still waiting.”
Full story
This Gospel-based youth ministry has a definite point to it
By
Religion News Service
A few years ago, Dan Meyer, 50, a blond guy with the buoyant energy of a
puppy, sat in his Alabama church during Christmas while the preacher encouraged
people to see the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as a parable. The
reindeer with the nose he was ashamed of finally realized that his odd feature
was his gift and his witness.
Full story
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Baptism leads to ministry
With characteristic understatement and lowercase eloquence, American
poet e.e.cummings once began a poem proclaiming: “i am a little church (no
great cathedral).” Poem “77” is a song about every person living
fully the sacramental mystery of ordinary life. What cummings celebrated
is familiar to people who have experienced the power of ministry to uncover
God’s power flowing both ways while serving others.
By getting involved in the needs of others, they have learned the holy truth that
we are all little churches and, as such, sure channels of grace and mystery.
Full editorial
Boston moves on, after Law
It is encouraging to see signs of rejuvenation in the Boston archdiocese
five years after Cardinal Bernard Law resigned in the wake of revelations about
his handling of the clergy sex abuse crisis.
Full editorial
“We need God to be involved in this upcoming election.
... I
believe this year will determine the future of our nation.”
-- Shirley Dobson, chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, who
is leading a Pray for Election Day campaign
More quotes
Ron Paul is the mutineer candidate
Full story
The Society of Jesus should renounce all ties to the military
By
John Dear
Last fall, when I stood trial for our Santa Fe antiwar witness, I
was asked about my mission as a Jesuit priest. I testified under oath that our
job was to “save souls, end wars, liberate the poor from poverty, and
welcome God’s reign of justice and peace as disciples, friends and
companions of Jesus.” “Where does it say that?” the judge
interrupted. “In the documents of the Society of Jesus, General
Congregations 31, 32, 33 and 34,” I answered.
Full story
Immigration debate goes online
By
Suzanne Manneh
To counter a fierce anti-immigration presence in cyberspace, immigrant
rights activists are taking their campaigns online, where they hope to change
the tone of the immigration debate. New America Media sponsored a conference call with reporters and editors
of ethnic media to discuss this issue.
Full story
Survey: 'Unchurched' say church is 'full of hypocrites'
By
Religion News Service
Almost three-quarters of Americans who haven’t darkened the door of
a church in the last six months think it is “full of hypocrites,” and
even more of them consider Christianity to be more about organized religion
than about loving God and people, according to a new survey.
Full story
Life Teen founder begins independent praise center
By
Patricia Zapor
The priest-founder of a popular church youth program who has been
suspended from public ministry has established a nondenominational Praise and
Worship Center in Mesa, Ariz., that is drawing hundreds of participants a week.
The local bishop has warned Catholics to stay away from the services and not to
support the center.
Full story
Catholic students claim discrimination by university
By
Joe Winter
A Catholic student group is suing the University of Wisconsin at
Madison, claiming it is being discriminated against because it is a religious
organization.
Full story
'Gays and grays' -- so happy together
By
Chuck Colbert
Vital San Francisco parish bridges the gaps of age and
lifestyle.
Full story
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Few words, big story
When we discuss stories at NCR, we have a tendency to give great
attention to the big story. So too with NCR stories. Sometimes the more significant
happenings never make it to the front page. Such is the story
about Sr. Antona Ebo, the first African-American nun to take part in the
historic voting rights demonstrations and marches in Selma, Ala., in 1962.
Full story
By
Dana Greene
Hild, Margaret Clitherow and Mary Ward possessed remarkable vision
and character.
Full story
Calling all writers!
By
Joseph Cunneen and Kevin Doherty
Sweeny Todd' is a brilliant adaptation; 'No Country
for Old Men' most disturbing; 'Juno' is a touching screwball comedy.
Full story
By
Raymond A. Schroth
The obsolescence of reading is a looming peril.
Full story
Cynicism, nihilism and wisecracks
Send submissions for future topics in our “Variations on a
Theme” feature.
Full story
A Catholic conscience against the war
Reviewed by
Tom Roberts
Full review
Poetry January 25, 2008
Letters for January 25, 2008
Classifieds for January 25, 2008
News Briefs for January 25, 2008
People for January 25, 2008
Last Words
A memorable quote from this
week's issue.
Correction
Alice Waters is one of three vice presidents of Slow Food International
(not Slow Food USA), and Jasper Mirabile is on the board of directors of the
Kansas City, Mo., Convivium, not the Slow Food USA board. NCR incorrectly
reported their affiliations in the Jan. 11 issue. |
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