Pope Francis greets Greg Burke, the new director of the Vatican press office, at the Vatican July 11. Burke, a native of St. Louis, has worked for the Vatican since 2012 and prior to that was a television correspondent for Fox News and a correspondent for Time magazine.

The Pope gets it

Next to the Pope, the Vatican’s most quoted person is probably the papal spokesman. In an often thankless job, the spokesman makes official announcements, corrects misinformation, fields reporters’ queries and, generally, is the public face of a Church that is frequently misunderstood.

Law enforcement personnel walk July 17 near the scene where police officers were shot in Baton Rouge, La. Three officers were killed.

America is reaping what it has sown

Earlier this month, we were driving to Minnesota to visit relatives on the night a black man was shot dead by police in a St. Paul suburb after being stopped for a broken tail light. That was a day after another black man was killed by police in Baton Rouge.

A man carries a European Union flag in London June 24, a day after voters in the United Kingdom decided to leave the EU.

Heed Brexit lesson

British bishops were quick to condemn a surge in racist and xenophobic incidents that followed the divisive vote that saw Great Britain bid adieu to the European Union. In the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, police reported a 57-per-cent spike in verbal and physical assaults on visible minorities, immigrants and even on some long-time residents born abroad.

“We need more prayer.” That may seem like a sweet but naive idea in dark days, but it is a form of action that connects us to a truth that can’t be trumped.

In dark days, put prayer into action

In the midst of all the bad news over the past month, especially the legalization of euthanasia, it is easy to forget there is a world of the spirit and prayer that rises above the grime and connects us to our true home where truth shines bright.

Pope Francis greets retired Pope Benedict XVI prior to the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 2015.

Benedict XVI offers much encouragement to priests

It’s become something of a routine now. Pope Francis delivers a spontaneous lambasting of priests who do this or that which he disapproves of, and priests get in touch to ask what we should make of it all.

Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, smiles as he talks with guests at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast May 17 in Washington.

Cardinal Robert Sarah made out of the right stuff

Before a colleague mentioned the name of Cardinal Robert Sarah I had not heard of him. At the age of 34, the Guinea-born Sarah was made Archbishop of Conakry by Pope John Paul II. He was still a bambino (according to Pope Benedict XVI) when he was elevated to cardinal in 2010. 

Iraqi soldiers observe the evacuation of families from the recaptured town of Zangura, Iraq, March 9.

Protection for all

Give credit to the federal government for recently acknowledging that the systematic murder, rape and enslavement of the Yazidi people of Iraq and Syria constitutes genocide. But why stop there? 

A year of living the teachings from Laudato Si’ has seen changes in Luke Stocking’s ways, including eating vegetarian meals at restaurants and making meat purchases from sustainable sources.

A year of living 'Laudato Si'

“Is it unusual for the Pope to make a comment on the environment?”

The House of Commons is now under pressure to pass Bill C-14 before the summer recess starting on June 23.

Get it done

The prevailing legal vacuum around assisted suicide is unacceptable and begs a speedy end to the head-butting between the elected House of Commons and the unelected Senate — even if that means politicians forgoing summer vacations.

An undated photo of St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis issued an edict on June 3 that puts bishops responsible for sex abuse on the frontline for accountability.

It’s about time

Change comes slowly at the Vatican. On the issue of clerical sexual abuse of children, Rome’s methodical approach has caused Pope Francis to endure barbs for dallying on a pledge to get tough on abusers within the Church.

Charles Lewis talks about the road autonomy might lead to, as Canada walks down the path of legalizing assisted suicide.

Autonomy’s open road

Autonomy has evolved into a word of frightful power. Its meaning now goes beyond such independent actions as choosing a spouse, following a career path or adopting a style of fashion. It surpasses political views and for many has become a one-word mantra for a new religion called secularism, in which God is replaced by putting “me” at the centre of the universe. 

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