Does it make sense to call Francis a liberal? For that matter, can any faithful Catholic—a word that means “universal”—be described as “conservative” or "liberal"?
Whether liberal or conservative, reform-minded or traditionalist, Catholics were stunned by the interview Pope Francis recently gave. So were many non-Catholics.
It is past time to alleviate the suffering of Catholics who are confused by a church that teaches the indissolubility of marriages while regularly dissolving them.
Misreadings are all too common among Catholic leaders. Part of the error stems, no doubt, from an ignorance of history, or more likely, history badly taught.
'Catholics in the American Century' gathers essays exploring how Catholic experience and perspectives enrich our understanding of the broader American experience.
Over the course of six decades, Fr. Andrew M. Greeley—who died on May 30—wrote regularly for Commonweal. Here are excerpts from just some of his articles.
That Americans and American Catholics remain divided over abortion is to our credit. But some divisions are more necessary, compelling, or expedient than others.
Benedict's resignation forced the church to allow something that has been thought unacceptable for centuries, setting the stage for his predecessor to do likewise.
With the concentration of power in Rome, perhaps the responsibilities of the papacy are not simply too much for a person of Benedict's age, but for any one person.
Four contributors, all of whom wrote for a previous series called "What Next?" which reflected on the start of Benedict's papacy, now reflect on its conclusion.
The unique features of the modern papacy must be considered when analyzing Benedict's resignation -- including issues of collegiality, age, and secular power.
