Posts in Society
It’s time Catholics (and all Americans) examine the role of news media in society

(OPINION) A two-day conference on the current state of journalism — co-sponsored by Catholic broadcaster EWTN and Franciscan University of Steubenville — examined why objectivity has disappeared, threats to freedom of speech and the hostility some in the mainstream have towards Catholics.

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This Kashmir Village Leads India in Waging War On The Dowry Practice

Giving and taking dowry and lavish weddings are totally banned in this tiny hamlet of 6,000 people in central Kashmir. Local officials realized the insidious effect of high-rolling dowries on young people pursuing marriage and families.

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Is The End Of Journalistic Objectivity The Reason Catholic Church Vandalism Isn't A Big Story?

(OPINION) Old-school objectivity in journalism appears to be dead. My proof for that statement is that the ongoing vandalism of churches is a major story, but one that elite newsroom professionals have decided is a right-wing political talking point. If this isn’t a flaw in the current way journalists do things, then expect for more readers to look elsewhere for information.

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Most Americans Today Are Choosing Cremation: Why Burials Are Becoming Less Common

(ANALYSIS) As late as 1970, according to figures from the Cremation Association of America, only about 5% of American chose cremation over burial. But in 2020, more than 56% Americans opted for it. And by 2035, the he National Funeral Directors Association predicts nearly 80% of Americans will opt for cremation.

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‘Baptism-Gate’ And The News Media's Use Of Wrong Experts On Big Catholic Stories

(OPINION) Yes, baptism-gate has been all the rage. News coverage of it, however, has not been so good. The specifics of the doctrines surrounding baptism are often too difficult for many journalists to write about fairly. When they do tackle these issues, they tend to assume the Vatican is wrong and rigid. After all, the experts they consult agree with that very notion.

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5 Christmas Messages That Inspire Hope During The Pandemic

It was another tough year for many people around the planet. The pandemic, just as it seemed to be subsiding this fall, rages on thanks to the omicron variant. Aside from COVID-19, issues such as climate change and the plight of migrants continues to plague nations, and international conflicts continue to rattle millions around the globe.

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World Cup Triggers Religious Conflicts In Qatar Over Alcohol And LGBTQ Rights

The 2022 World Cup, which will be held in the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar, will test the majority-Muslim country in several ways — primarily when it comes to religious mores around public intoxication and homosexuality, both of which are illegal there.

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Tulsa Race Massacre Prayer Room Highlights Churches’ 1921 Sins, Seeks Healing

At the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, pastors in Oklahoma’s second-largest city have issued a joint statement against racism. It’s part of a special prayer room at the First Baptist Church of Tulsa.

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Can 'Super Mario' and Catholic Social Teaching rescue Italy's faltering economy?

(ANALYISIS) Italian economist Mario Draghi is forming a new government at the president’s request after a collapse of the ruling coalition over its handling of the pandemic. How will Catholic Social Teaching factor in helping lockdown-weary Italians — from business owners to the unemployed — achieve economic stability? The answer can be found in a 2013 speech.

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Biden elected second Catholic U.S. president in history: What does it mean for a divided nation?

(ANALYSIS) Former Vice President Joe Biden’s Catholicism often helped shape his politics as did a family tragedy earlier in his life. Biden promises unity post-Trump, but how he governs could ultimately result in an even bigger political split in the U.S. over the next four years.

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Journalists’ Neglect Religious Coverage Related to Black Lives Matter

(OPINION) As Black Lives Matter persists as one of the hot topics in the media, mainstream news associations often neglect the religious angle — isolating entire groups of stakeholders within the community. This leaves us asking the question, how are people within religious communities responding to Black Lives Matter?

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Yet another book about who will follow Pope Francis examines a church in transition

(REVIEW) While 83-year-old Pope Francis is in good health, that hasn’t stopped speculation over who will come next. In his new book, author George Weigel examines the problems affecting the church and what the next pope will need to do in order to address them. Think of it like a very long to-do memo for the next head of the Catholic church.

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How A Man Named Crow Joined The Church Of 'Outcasts'

The son of evangelists, Floyd Brady left the church in his teens and hit the road touring with a metal rock band, singing songs filled with hatred for religion. Decades later, he’s welcoming “outcasts” at Michigan’s Victory Biker Church by embracing, not fighting, the road warrior culture he came to love.

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Is it news when a U.S. senator claims Catholics are under attack?

(OPINION) This post isn’t some esoteric exercise in press freedom or news judgement. It’s about something real that is plaguing the national press in this country at this very critical moment in time.

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How Pence’s Faith Gave Trump Credibility Among Conservative Christians

(OPINION) Vice President Mike Pence has the role of firming up Trump’s base over the coming weeks, making sure evangelicals and traditional Catholics pull the lever for the president.

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Biden's faith becomes a campaign issue as anti-Catholic attacks rise

(OPINION) During this time of cultural reckoning, some have tried to lump Catholic saints like St. Damien into the same category as treasonous Confederate generals. That has forced Republicans to come out as defenders of traditional Christian values, while Democrats get dangerously closer to socialism.

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Race to be the next pope: New book details the possible candidates

(REVIEW) The Next Pope: The Leading Cardinal Candidates by the National Catholic Register's longtime Rome correspondent Edward Pentin delves into the lives of the cardinals most likely to follow Francis.

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