All Articles

What is Freedom?

Genuine freedom is not simply the ability to do whatever you want; it is the ability to choose the good.

The Church and Conservation

All, Integral Ecology, Physical Environment

From its beginning the Church has taught God’s creation is good and worthy of protection.

The Poorest Country in the World

All, Preferential Option for the Poor, Secularism

By material and economic standards the ten poorest countries are in Africa. Conversely, the ten richest countries are mostly in Europe. But this isn’t the whole story.

What is Poverty?

All, Preferential Option for the Poor

Poverty is not just material. It is also moral and spiritual. Poverty is an affront to human dignity, and so the Church has always taught a preferential option for the poor.

A man gives to a poor homeless person begging on the street.

Charity vs. Justice

All

The controversy over the primacy of ‘charity or justice’ is reminiscent of earlier controversies about ‘faith or works’ answered by St. James 2,000 years ago: “‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)

Deacon Mike Leman of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wisconsin

Catholic Social Teaching: Antidote to Extremism

All

A friend said, “Catholic Social Teaching is just the Church’s way of pushing socialism on us.” I hear this often.

A Catholic priest carries the Eucharist in the monstrance during adoration, with incense and praise and worship.

The Role of Laity in CST Part 4

All

Implementing Catholic social teaching results in confusion and error if our consciences are improperly formed.

The Role of Laity in CST Part 3

All

“Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.” (Pope Benedict XVI)