In the wake of theater composer Stephen Sondheim’s death on November 26, Shane Liesegang, SJ tries to understand why the loss feels so personal for so many.
Posts in Current Events
What Does Reconciliation Look Like After the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol?
A former Congressional intern who gave tours of the U.S. Capitol reflects on the experience of watching a mob take over the building on January 6th. Where do we go from here? What does reconciliation look like moving forward? We can learn from our experience of the Sacrament.
Letter to Vice President Biden: Protecting the Unborn
Vice President Biden’s Catholic faith has shaped his care for the poor and marginalized, but his increasingly extreme political position on the issue of abortion must be reconsidered.
The Value of Human Life: An African Jesuit Reflects on the Black Lives Matter Movement
What is the value of human life? While there seems to be an agreement that such a question is worth asking, there is much debate on what ought to be its appropriate response. The incongruity in the responses to this age-old question has led to the heart-rending...
Juneteenth: A Day of Hope
June 19th is remembered as the day that slavery ended in the South. The hope it calls forth must be met with a challenge us all to ask: Who do we want to be for each other?
Weird? Punk? Elitist? None of these describes me as a Christian
Is it weird? Punk? Elitist? Or do all these labels fall short of the truth of the matter? Catholics aren’t supposed to fit in any of the cultural boxes the world tries to shove us into.
The Risen Jesus Meets Us in Our Anxiety
It can be hard to feel the joy of Easter during this pandemic, but Jesus meets us in our anxiety and his words have “the ring of truth” in our ears.
7 Things to Brighten Your Day
We could all use a pick-me-up in the midst of the coronavirus and round-the-clock news coverage. Here is a hodge-podge of positivity. Some signs of Easter surrounding us. A comical collection of videos, poems, art, and Tweets. Something to put a smile on your face.
The Common Good and Coronavirus: Time to Re-Think Politics?
Lightning rod Harvard professor Adrian Vermeule proposes a more substantive solidarity.
Life Changes from Lent and Coronavirus: What TJP Readers Are Doing
Both the season of Lent and the current coronavirus crisis are desert experiences. Just as we adapt new practices during Lent, we are experiencing radical changes in our lives with the spread of COVID-19. Last month, we reached out to TJP readers about how they are praying, fasting, and giving alms this year. Many of you responded. Read the responses, along with the graces that readers are receiving. You’ll find that these words echo even stronger amid the uncertainty and anxiety of the current crisis.