The reasons for ‘partisanship’

Complaints that Washington-is-broken, which seem to have new intensity in recent years, often go hand-in-hand with laments about “partisanship” in politics. And, to be sure, there are reasons to be concerned about the functionality of our political system and its ability to address and solve some very serious problems. The present, sad condition of much of Europe, where a breakdown of (Christian) democratic culture seems to be leading inexorably to a breakdown of democratic politics and the substitution of government by technocratic elites (currently being previewed in Italy), is a cautionary tale for Americans.

Our faith should transform our politics

In response to editors' requests for a regular sampling of current commentary from around the Catholic press, here is a column titled "Our faith...

Pugin at 200

The prospect of “redecorating,” or any other form of “home improvement,” generally gets me thinking, quickly, about a lengthy research trip abroad. Yet I...

God’s abundance despite infertility

Charles and Vicki, parishioners at St. Timothy in Mesa, have been married for nearly 17 years and have eight children. Charles is a Knight...

HHS mandate latest in line of religious crises

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulation that would force employers, including Catholic institutions, to pay, directly or indirectly, for insurance...

The war on (little) women and other insanities

The Supreme Court’s minor mistakes have few systemic consequences. But when the Supremes make a big mistake, the error tends to seep throughout the...