Catholic Church

By Various, First Things - In preparation for the upcoming Synod on Young People, the Vatican asked for reports from young Catholics around the world concerning their faith and the role the Church plays in their lives. Some of us are younger than others, but we were all children in the decades leading up to the sexual abuse crisis of 2002. In light of that experience and the recent revelations about Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, we answer the Church’s invitation to speak. Our experiences have given us cause for gratitude, but also for anger.

 By Tom Hoopes, Aleteia - The Eucharist changes us the same way a marriage does... We are three Sundays through a five-Sunday explanation by Jesus of why he wants to give us himself in the Blessed Sacrament... “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,” he says in this Sunday’s Gospel. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him,” he will say later.

By A Diocesan Priest, Crisis Magazine - In light of the current ecclesial climate, I would like to share my story—not so much my biography, though elements of that are mentioned in several places. I would like people to know where my heart is. It is tired, and it is broken—I can physically feel pain in my chest. While I know there is hope in Christ our light, and while I know that this is his Church, and that the harvest is at hand, in which one day the weeds and wheat will be separated, it would be foolish at present not to address my hurt and my frustrations.....

By Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents - Fr. Mike explains why courtesy is not just a set of proprietary gestures meant for upper echelon or archaic societies. Ultimately, it's about respect for the dignity of others, and showing courtesy matters because it tells other people that you are willing to take the time to think of them. In a sense, showing courtesy is the Christian thing to do.