Cover story --
Survey of U.S. Catholics |
By
William V. D'Antonio
From John Paul II to Benedict XVI.
Full story
Center of Catholic identity
By
Dean R. Hoge
Like other centuries-old religious traditions, Catholicism encompasses
an array of texts, teachings, rituals, devotions, prophets, reformers and
saints. Religious
identity is always built on a core of beliefs. Theologians call this the
hierarchy of truths.
Full story
Attitudes of Catholics highly committed to the church
By
Dean R. Hoge
Leaders of churches, both Catholic and non-Catholic, are especially
interested in hearing the views of laity who are strongly committed. These lay
persons are the solid core of parish life. They provide leadership, volunteer
labor and financial support, all of which are sorely needed and much
appreciated.
Full story
Generational differences
By
William V. D'Antonio
From the "Greatest Generation" to the "Millienials".
Full story
American Catholics and political parties
By
William V. D'Antonio
Demography, commitment and social teachings.
Full story
What Catholics believe about abortion and the death penalty
By
James D. Davidson
Our 2005 survey shows that there continues to be a sizable gap between official
church teachings about abortion and the death penalty and the way American
Catholics view these life issues.
Full story
Lay Catholics firmly committed to parish life
By
Mary L. Gautier
What have we learned about American Catholic laity and their relation to
parish life today? Other research has found that Catholics today are much less
likely than Catholics of a couple of generations ago to say that they attend
Mass weekly.
Full story
Belief in church as mediator slips
By
James D. Davidson
Those of us who are old enough to have been raised on the Baltimore
Catechism remember learning that the church is an essential component of our
relationship with God. God speaks to us through the church, especially the
sacraments. And it is through the church, especially the sacraments, that we
gain salvation. The new Catechism of the Catholic Church reasserts this view:
“The church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant
are necessary for salvation” (#1129).
Full story
Challenging assumptions about young Catholics
By
James D. Davidson
The Catholic hierarchy in the United States is very concerned about religious
illiteracy and its link to dissent from church teachings. This concern contains
two important assumptions: that religious illiteracy is higher among younger
Catholics than among older ones, and that religious illiteracy fosters
disagreement with church teachings.
Full story
Does Catholics education make a difference?
By
Mary L. Gautier
American Catholics have a long history of support for Catholic education for
young people. After a century of building Catholic schools and spending millions
to maintain them, Catholics today are wondering what impact these schools
actually have.
Full story
Lay Catholics want input in financial decisions
By
Mary L. Gautier
American Catholics want more say in the financial decisions of the
church, at least at the parish level. While the desire to have a say in parish
financial decisions has been strong all along (eight in 10 agreed with the
statement in 1987), in 2005 almost nine in 10 (89 percent) agree that Catholic
laity should have the right to participate in deciding how parish income should
be spent.
Full story |
Study adds to understanding
This issue contains an imposing body of information that, given the
benefit of three previous and similar surveys, adds weight and texture to an
evolving image of American Catholics.
Full editorial
No question, rebuild New Orleans
By
Tara Harris
I’ve begun to hear people question the wisdom of rebuilding New
Orleans. They are wondering if certain neighborhoods should be abandoned,
plowed under and permitted to become a watershed.
Full story
“The worst thing we could do is increase taxes on the
economy.’’
-- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas
explaining why lawmakers must make $70 billion in temporary tax cuts permanent
despite pressure to eliminate or delay them to meet hurricane relief costs. He
said that allowing the tax cuts to expire would be the equivalent of a tax
hike.
More quotes
Blame game reveals Americans' delusions of power
Full story
Small weapons pose a global threat
Full story
Mismanaged Indian trust is a scandal
By
Patricia Powers
The federal government stalls paying its debt to Native Americans.
Full story
Catholic, Buddhist clergy in full court press for harmony
By
UCA News
The love of sport and religious harmony
drove Catholic priests and Buddhist monks to the jokgu court for some
friendly competition.
Full story
By
Jeff Severns Guntzel
Things are tight in Baton Rouge, La., where a population surge of
hundreds of thousands of New Orleans’ evacuees has made it the
state’s largest city. And the offices of the Catholic diocese are no
exception. There, the exiled administration of the New Orleans archdiocese is
working parallel to -- or on top of -- its twin administration in the buildings
of the Baton Rouge diocese.
Full story
Cindy, other mothers speak their message
By
Patrick O'Neill
President shunned them in Texas, so they caravan to nation's capital.
Full story
|
FROM
THE EDITOR'S DESK
Changing and not changing
Eighteen years ago, then-publisher William McSweeney and then-editor Tom
Fox asked sociologist William V. D’Antonio to do a survey of American
Catholics. That was the beginning of what can now be called a tradition. Every
six years, that basic survey of Catholic attitudes and commitment is updated.
Each year new areas of questioning are added and new categories are begun. For
instance, this year the designation of post-Vatican II Catholics has been
further divided into Gen X Catholics (those born between 1961 and 1978) and
“Millennials,” (born between 1979 and 1987), who, when combined with
the Gen Xers, make up almost half of all Catholics ages 18 and over.
Full
story
By
Robert Hirschfield
Former Fatah fighters wanting to reframe the struggle attend
workshops.
Full story
Starting Point
By
Ed Horvat
I have known a lot of dead people, including St. Francis of Assisi. I
took his name at confirmation. He is a gentle man but demands conversion. He is
a good patron and helped me die.
Full story
By
Mark Panos
'He Who Is Blessed' recounts the roller-coaster biography of Harvey
Simmonds.
Full review
Letters for September 30, 2005
Classifieds for September 30, 2005
News Briefs for September 30, 2005
People for September 30, 2005
Last
Words
| 'It's a hard lesson to learn, that the
natural world is the real world and humans are little more than transient
guests. And not especially well-behaved guests.' |
|
--
Colman McCarthy
|
A memorable quote from this week's issue.
|
