Social Justice
Secular and religious thinkers agree: the sexual revolution is one of the most important milestones in human history. Perhaps nothing has changed life for so many, so fast, as the severing of sex and procreation. But what has been the result?
This ground-breaking book by noted essayist and author Mary Eberstadt contends that sexual freedom has paradoxically produced widespread discontent. Drawing on sociologists Pitirim Sorokin, Carle Zimmerman, and others; philosopher G.E.M. Anscombe and novelist Tom Wolfe; and a host of feminists, food writers, musicians, and other voices from across today's popular culture, Eberstadt makes her contrarian case with an impressive array of evidence. Her chapters range across academic disciplines and include supporting evidence from contemporary literature and music, women's studies, college memoirs, dietary guides, advertisements, television shows, and films.
Adam and Eve after the Pill examines as no book has before the seismic social changes caused by the sexual revolution. In examining human behavior in the post-liberation world, Eberstadt provocatively asks: Is food the new sex? Is pornography the new tobacco?
Adam and Eve after the Pill will change the way readers view the paradoxical impact of the sexual revolution on ideas, morals, and humanity itself.
What does the Catholic Church teach about racism? What should Catholics think about Critical Race Theory, which is currently being widely promoted in the name of antiracism
All One in Christ lucidly explains the Church's clear and consistent condemnation of racism, showing that the condemnation is not a recent development but deeply rooted in centuries of papal teaching and Scholastic theology.
This book also demonstrates that Critical Race Theory, far from being a remedy for racism, is, in fact, a new and insidious form of racism that cannot be reconciled with the social teaching of the Church and the call of Christ. Edward Feser exhorts Catholics to oppose Critical Race Theory--precisely because they are opposed to racial injustice. They must reaffirm that all human beings are rational creatures capable of knowledge and charity and redemption from sin through grace.
Disinformation is designed to evoke a strong emotional response to push us toward more extreme views, unable to find common ground with others. The false claims that led to the breathtaking attack on our Capitol in 2021 may have been only a dress rehearsal. Attack from Within shows us how to prevent it from happening again, thus preserving our country's hard-won democracy.
--Ephesians 5:14
The long-simmering crisis that grips our culture has exploded in recent years, leaving us divided and intransigent. Discourse seems futile when we are no longer a people with shared principles or even a shared understanding of reality. What seems obvious to one person is patently absurd to the next. This collapse of meaning is not accidental. It has been plotted and documented for decades, and now presents in its current form as Woke ideology. Awake, Not Woke unmasks this ideology by examining its history, major players, premises, and tactics, showing us that "Wokeness" at its core is an ideology of rupture. Indeed, it is an ideology with fundamentalist and even cult-like characteristics that is on a collision course with Christianity. With a wit and clarity that both exposes the absurd and mourns the brokenness of our culture,
Noelle Mering provides answers to such questions as:
This is a spiritual battle, and it is not accidental. The architects of revolution have long known that the transformation of the West had to come by way of destabilizing the social, familial, and religious pieties of a citizenry. But there is a road to restoration, and it begins with identifying and understanding the operating principles of the Woke movement. While the revolution is a counterfeit religion resulting in alienation and division, the One True Faith brings restoration. It is this restoration -- of the person, the family, and the Faith -- for which we all hunger and is the most fitting avenue toward a more harmonious and whole society
Never before has humanity existed in a culture that rejects belief in a transcendent power. Previous cultures -- even when rent by bitter disagreements -- shared a common belief that a greater force stood above the material realm. But when one side acknowledges an ultimate source of truth while the other side denies it, debate is dead, and mutual understanding is impossible.
So claims Fr. Dwight Longenecker in his most captivating book yet, Beheading Hydra. Longenecker shows how, like the mythical serpentine beast with myriad writhing and venomous heads, atheism manifests itself today through sixteen "isms" that cloak the actions of the antichrist, who seethes with pure hatred of God and His truth.
Because any good battle plan calls for a thorough knowledge of the enemy, Fr. Longenecker boldly exposes the philosophies behind scientism, materialism, utilitarianism, sentimental humanitarianism, and more, explaining how they became the core assumptions of our culture and how they are, in turn, corrupting the politics and power structures of the world.
Beheading Hydra brilliantly catalogs the alluring and seductive deceptions of each ism to help you see how they are corroding the very foundations of Western civilization and entrapping countless faithful Christians.
Best of all, the book lays out a plan of action to behead the Hydra that calls for neither direct conflict nor even dialogue, but creative subversion. You'll discover what this means along with the powerful and practical actions you and your friends can take now. You'll also learn how to acquire the grace needed to see clearly the problem -- and the solutions.
It is ordinary men and women who become extraordinary heroes in this battle against Satan, explains Fr. Longenecker. Only by the light of our lives will we defeat this darkness. Debate and dialogue are now pointless. Our lives are our only remaining argument.
Today, the Catholic Church is dealing with many complex problems that often leave the faithful confused about the authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching.
In Calming the Storm: Navigating the Crises Facing the Catholic Church and Society, experienced Vatican journalist Diane Montagna conducts a wide-ranging and trenchant interview with Fr. Gerald E. Murray that examines the root causes of and potential solutions to the many challenges the Church faces today.
Fr. Murray's insights provide sure guidance in understanding the Church's teaching on
- the indissolubility of marriage,
- homosexuality and gender ideology,
- the worthy reception of Holy Communion,
- the value of the Traditional Latin Mass,
- the horror of the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy,
- the responsibility of bishops to uphold—not contradict—the Catholic Faith,
- and the duty of all Catholics to remain faithful to the teachings handed down from the apostles.
Fr. Murray's analysis highlights that while Christianity is under siege in the modern world, our Faith teaches us to have confidence in God's never-failing providence. Renewing our minds and hearts in the truths that Christ and His Church teaches us brings true peace of soul. Amidst the maelstrom of doctrinal confusion and worldliness in the Church, Christ alone calms the storm when, like the Apostles, we turn to him in confidence and faith.
In her penetrating exploration of Catholic Social Teaching, Sr. Mary Consilia O'Brien, O.P., Ph.D., offers the most clear-eyed description ever written on this foundational subject. She explores the Church's authentic teachings on the dignity of the human person as well as man's freedoms and obligations to society. She describes when individual liberties must transcend social control -- and when they must not. Best of all, she explains the final purpose of society, to which all its activities must be oriented.
Skillfully crafted to appeal to both students and adults, each chapter features a probe of the content, leavened by practical examples, excerpts from the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, quotes from encyclicals, as well as discussion questions and additional study resources. In Christian Social Principles, you'll also learn:
The Church's Best-Kept Secret is a short primer which lays out the basics of Catholic social teaching in a way accessible to the ordinary Catholic as well as to any other person of good will attempting to grasp this often profoundly misunderstood area of Church doctrine and practice.
The social teaching of the Catholic Church shows how universal the faith really is, touching all people regardless of age, social status, or ethnicity. By introducing us to this social teaching Mark Shea has invited all Catholics to deepen their faith in practical ways, and to put aside individualism and tribalism and open their hearts to everyone just because they are fellow human beings.
-Bishop Thomas Dowd, auxiliary of Montreal
The Church's Best-Kept Secret is Mark Shea at his best: winsome, very accessible, thought-provoking, and seriously and holistically Catholic. Read this book, discuss it with friends and fellow parishioners, and then set out together with a journey of discipleship that reveals the goodness and love of God in ways that 21st century skeptics can hear.
-Sherry Weddell, author, Forming Intentional Disciples
In The Church's Best-Kept Secret, Mark Shea provides a faithful and spirited overview of Catholic social teaching grounded in Scripture, Vatican II, and papal writings since Leo XIII. He clearly explains the key principles of Catholic social teaching--human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity--and he shows that some Catholics, while rightfully opposing abortion and euthanasia, mistakenly reduce Catholic teachings on capital punishment and the environment to mere "prudential judgments" that can be ignored or opposed.
-Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D. Professor of Systematic Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan
In a style that will engage a broad range of people, Shea's faithfulness to the tradition (and rejection of the tired political idolatry on both the right and the left) is precisely what we need at this moment of realignment and creative destruction. Read this book if you want to know where and how the Church should speak to the signs of our times.
-Charles Camosy, Associate Professor of Theological Ethics at Fordham University and author of Resisting Throwaway Culture
Mark Shea's succinct primer brings us into the heart of the Church's thinking on society and the economy -- needed now as never before.
-Austen Ivereigh, author of Wounded Shepherd: Pope Francis and His Struggle to Convert the Catholic Church
In The Church's Best-Kept Secret, Mark Shea has written an accessible and essential primer for anyone interested in learning about Catholic teaching on human dignity and the common good rooted in the Gospel and Sacred Tradition.
-Mike Lewis, Managing Editor, Where Peter Is
A book like this has been needed for a long time. Short but comprehensive, well-written with good examples. I hope this becomes a resource at the parish level.
-John Medaille, author of Toward a Truly Free Market: A Distributist Perspective and The Vocation of Business: Social Justice in the Marketplace
Mark Shea has a gift for making official Catholic teaching accessible in a manner that displays not only its truth but also its beauty. In The Church's Best-Kept Secret, he shows that Catholic social doctrine challenges us to go beyond "liberal" and "conservative" distinctions. I recommend this book for all who seek to understand the fundamental principles behind that doctrine and apply it to their everyday lives, including their spiritual lives.
-Dawn Eden Goldstein, S.Th.D., theologian and author of My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints
In an increasingly polarized Church and world, we are accustomed to apologias and manifestos, jeremiads and rants. The word "catechesis" means to echo or resound and this resonance must be pastoral, in the voice of the Good Shepherd. Mark Shea captures this catechetical tone and pastoral spirit, eschewing polemics and hyperbole. His book echoes Catholic Social Teaching from our mother and teacher, the Church. It is a resounding success.
-Samuel D. Rocha, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
This monograph attempts to unravel the distinct applications of social justice, economic justice, and distributive justice in modern Christian social thought. The purpose is to set up a framework for justice that properly distinguishes each type, and also clarifies the relationships between instances of these types.
Discover how Catholic Social Teaching can help us to re-think homelessness and our commitment to justice in the world.
Homelessness is on the rise globally. As many governments leave the provision of housing to the markets, access to adequate, affordable housing is becoming more precarious. Widening inequality, fueled by a capitalist and neoliberal ideology, is exacerbating the problem. Damaging social narratives deepen the stigma of homelessness, while the systemic injustices causing the housing crises are often overlooked. In Dwelling with Dignity, moral theologian Suzanne Mulligan examines how Catholic Social Teaching can help us to re-think homelessness and our commitment to justice in the world.
With its emphasis on the common good, solidarity, and integral human development, we find in the social doctrine of the church not only a robust analysis of social injustice but also a call to proximity with the sufferer. Rooted in the Gospel, it calls us to dismantle the structures that oppress the poor and exclude many from full participation in society. Dwelling with Dignity invites us to construct economies and societies that place the human person at their center, and to work toward human flourishing, personal and communal healing through accompaniment, solidarity, and a commitment to justice in the world.
The world is experiencing a total eclipse of the meaning of the body. The definitions of boy and girl, masculinity and femininity, husband and wife, and mother and father have been obscured, and a shadow of confusion has been cast over gender, marriage, sex, and the family. Everything has been re-defined, and yet none of the new definitions are definite. Where did this come from-and more importantly-what needs to happen for the meaning of the body to become clear again? In this easy-to-read booklet, you'll discover what lies at the root of today's sexual chaos and gender confusion, and how it was foretold more than a century ago. You'll also learn how Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body provides the antidote to the crisis of our times and paves the way for the "Triumph" foretold by the Virgin Mary in Fatima.
The relationship of China with the greatest secular world power--the United States of America--and the most universal global spiritual power--the Catholic Church--is in a state of flux. President Trump and Pope Francis are major protagonists in this dramatic period. Although what is happening in China has an impact worldwide, it is hard for the non-specialist to grasp what is underway and its significance for the future.
There are two Catholic communities in China: the "underground", or unofficial, Church and the official, government-controlled Patriotic Church. Cardinal Joseph Zen is one of the most knowledgeable and credible witnesses to what is happening in China, especially on the relationship between these two communities. He is a courageous defender of the underground Church yet has intimate knowledge of the official Church, in part because hea taught in several of its seminaries.
It has been recognized--and Pope Francis himself has confirmed--that the historic 2007 letter of Pope Benedict XVI to Catholics in China remains the magna carta of the Church in that country. On the tenth anniversary of this letter, Cardinal Zen gave a series of eight lectures on its origin, drafting process, and final content, and these enlightening talks are presented in this book.
In these lectures, Cardinal Zen explains in detail what he considers is now threatening the fundamental principles of the letter--and therefore 'his people'. As the title indicates, for the love of his people, he will not remain silent.
Here is the clarity you need in an age of "linguistic acrobatics" that has attempted to change the meaning of sacred truths. Theological misinterpretations and free thinking have sparked a revolution that has redefined "love" and "knowledge." The "reconstitution of history" has reduced Christ to simply a great man, the firsthand accounts of the apostles are overthrown for "transcendental pluralism," and the absence of objective truth has yielded "perpetual existential instability."
If you're fed up with the prevalence of errant philosophies and are looking for a means of defending your Faith, this book is for you. In this reprint of Gethsemane The Origins and Rise of the Intellectual Revolution in the Church, the renowned Joseph Cardinal Siri corrects the erroneous teaching of controversial twentieth-century theologians Henri de Lubac, Jacques Maritain, Karl Rahner, and Hans Kung.
In these pages, you will learn the truth about the gamut of dominant heresies, including relativism, rationalism, modernism, cosmic monism, pantheism, anthropocentrism, dogmatic evolutionism, subjectivism, intellectual esoterism, and secularization in the Church.
Best of all, Cardinal Siri provides the answer to this persistent crisis of confusion -- that "the whole historicist heritage must be overturned within itself." And he teaches how to avoid the "intellectual kaleidoscope" that correlates unreal concepts to eternal truth.
In Gethsemane, readers will discover why it is imperative to uphold divine revelation, to recognize Original Sin and man's need for salvation, and consistently to reaffirm Catholic doctrines and dogma.
Cardinal Siri explains that, without revelation, we lose all objectivity and plummet into an "existential night." It is only by imitating the fiat of Jesus and Mary that we enter into the unity and adoration where truth is revealed. Christ affirmed that the Church is His Mystical Body. Jesus did not abandon us in His agony and we are called to remain true to His teaching until the end.
"It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo," says Samwise Gamgee. "Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. That there is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."
Many have likened the past few years to a dystopian novel or a thriller movie due to unprecedented oppression, violence, loss of rights, and weaponization of science and technology at the hands of powerful people with dark intentions. It's coming into ever-clearer focus that the unified, global pandemic response -- the forced lockdowns, vaccine and mask mandates, fear-filled media coverage, and restrictions on public worship -- stripped citizens of their civil liberties and transformed our society.
Leaving no stone unturned, award-winning film producer and human rights activist Jason Jones incisively lays out a full-scale campaign against this "Great Reset" to help equip you with the armor to protect and defend yourself, your loved ones, and all those vulnerable to the antihuman designs of global elites who have demonstrated a propensity for trampling basic human rights to achieve their one-world vision. Jones exposes the stealth tactics of the Great Reset leaders and reveals what they really mean by their "build back better" and "you'll own nothing and like it" slogans. Reflecting on historical precedents dating back to biblical times, Jones sounds a red alert and offers a plan for pushing back against the political, Church, and corporate apostasy still unfolding around us.
The incessant fear-mongering and propagandizing by the radical reformers, Jones explains, is undermining the health of the nation and robbing young people of their ability to reason and experience authentic love. But we can reverse course, he argues, and the time to do so is now.
In this prescient work, you will find examples of people -- past and present -- who heroically model ways to overcome the mightiest walls of resistance. You will learn:
Through the lens of the Gospels and classical thinking, Jones challenges readers to reclaim reverence for life and prescribes the "emergency medicine" we need to apply to revive and renew our Church, our nation, and our world.
While spirituality is still thought to be primarily a personal quest for holiness and religious experience, it might be thought mere narcissism in an era of widespread need. Moe-Lobeda shows how the advent of globalization places a new horizon on the spiritual quest but, at the same time, has caused an enervation of people's sense of moral agency. What can I, one person, do to affect such a massive and systemic shift?Far from being a flight from the world, she argues, the classic Christian contemplative tradition can ignite critical vision and creative resistance to the seemingly inevitable march of globalization.
For decades, the upper level of the Catholic education system has struggled to preserve its identity. In an ongoing effort to meet the financial and reputational demands of academia, many Catholic colleges and universities have conformed to the world instead of to the gospel.
Happily, there are still beacons of hope out there, as Dr. Anne Hendershott of Franciscan University reveals through powerful examples of Catholic witness in institutions of higher learning nationwide. Through courageous testimonies, you will discover how to rebuild educational establishments to form the saints who will transform every field, just as St. Francis of Assisi renewed the Church in his time.
Founded ex corde ecclesiae, "from the heart of the Church," Christocentric colleges ignite the fire of the Faith for new generations. As Dr. Hendershott contrasts them with more secular colleges, you will acquire context for the present-day challenges and discover the concrete ways in which committed Catholic universities live out their mission. Highlights include:
As you learn about the institutional fidelity and liturgical character of these institutions, you will observe how the finest Catholic colleges navigate the issues of academic freedom enlightened by Church teachings and how, despite worldly attacks, they remain steadfast in their mission to form souls for Heaven.
For decades, the upper level of the Catholic education system has struggled to preserve its identity. In an ongoing effort to meet the financial and reputational demands of academia, many Catholic colleges and universities have conformed to the world instead of to the gospel.
Happily, there are still beacons of hope out there, as Dr. Anne Hendershott of Franciscan University reveals through powerful examples of Catholic witness in institutions of higher learning nationwide. Through courageous testimonies, you will discover how to rebuild educational establishments to form the saints who will transform every field, just as St. Francis of Assisi renewed the Church in his time.
Founded ex corde ecclesiae, “from the heart of the Church,” Christocentric colleges ignite the fire of the Faith for new generations. As Dr. Hendershott contrasts them with more secular colleges, you will acquire context for the present-day challenges and discover the concrete ways in which committed Catholic universities live out their mission. Highlights include:
- The background and impact of “open circle” education on Catholic culture
- The true mission of every Catholic university, according to St. John Paul II and Ven. Fulton J. Sheen
- How Fr. Mike Scanlon, T.O.R., transformed Franciscan University from a failing party school into one of the most outstanding Catholic universities in America
- Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan’s vision and generosity in building Ave Maria University
- Different approaches to teaching liberal arts curriculum in faithful Catholic schools
- The crucial role of liturgy, worship, and the sacraments in spiritually forming students
- A definitive list of authentic Catholic colleges and universities
As you learn about the institutional fidelity and liturgical character of these institutions, you will observe how the finest Catholic colleges navigate the issues of academic freedom enlightened by Church teachings and how, despite worldly attacks, they remain steadfast in their mission to form souls for Heaven.
The Risks and Rewards of Interreligious Dialogue
Clear, practical guidelines that show how all of us can participate in interreligious dialogue without compromising our own faith or attacking the faith of others.
Series Summary
The new What Every Catholic Should Know series is intended for the average faithful Catholic who wants to know more about Catholic faith and culture. The authors in this series take a panoramic approach to the topic of each book aimed at a non-specialist but enthusiastic readership. Forthcoming titles planned for this series include: the Eucharist, salvation, history, art, and philosophy.
Book Summary
In Mercy: What Every Catholic Should Know, Fr. Daniel Moloney covers a broad range of topics regarding mercy that are prevalent for our society today. Beginning from an unexpected perspective in the first half of the book, Fr. Moloney approaches mercy from a political point of view, explaining how mercy is in fact truly and intimately interwoven with politics and power. Through this lens, he touches upon pertinent topics such as legal punishments, the death penalty, and self-defense. He also assesses the clergy scandals, laying out why they occurred, what went wrong in how they were dealt with, and how the Church can improve moving forward for the greater glory of God. He eloquently explains how mercy is not synonymous with leniency, but is an act of responding to a privation, a lack of something which ought to be there. Sometimes the road to this may have to be tough love for the good of all involved.
Fr. Moloney invites the reader to wrestle with the supposed contradiction of God saying that he is merciful, yet killing and punishing his creation. Moloney ultimately resolves this apparent contradiction by highlighting God's identity as the loving Father, explaining how, similar to good earthly fathers, sometimes the most loving route to take in truly loving your children and bringing them to their ultimate good is through the course of tough love. God is always good and loving, and his justice and mercy go hand-in-hand.
In this bold and powerful book, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski marshals an irrefutable defense of the Church's historical teaching that her liturgical ministries -- including those of lector and altar server -- should be performed exclusively by men.
God created the two sexes for profound reasons, explains Dr. Kwasniewski, and we diminish human beings when we lose sight of those reasons. He asserts that the interdependence of the two sexes strengthens both men and women and that the complementary characteristics of masculinity and femininity are indispensable to human development. The manifest differences between the sexes have informed the Church's vision on the roles of men and women in the liturgy for centuries, and they are now under attack not only from outside the Catholic Church but also within it, threatening the very order and coherence of civilization itself.
Dr. Kwasniewski thoughtfully reflects on Scripture, Church teachings, and human nature to determine the proper callings of the laity and clergy as well as their diverse but integral modes of participation in the liturgy. He connects the male priesthood to the Incarnation of Our Lord, and he explains the Old Testament background and New Testament roots of the diaconate, subdiaconate, and minor orders. He then stunningly reveals how these roles are designed to reflect and radiate the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Finally, Dr. Kwasniewski charts a path to a healthier church life, one that replaces the "heresy of activism" with the primacy of prayer and the power of contemplation. He argues that we should set aside the push to "update" everything and return to the serene embrace of the essential changelessness of the Christian religion. Only then can we adequately worship the immutable God in His eternal truth, which is reflected in the liturgical rites of Catholic tradition and the stable forms of life they call forth and bless.
This personal and provocative look at poverty in America isshaped around the author's own engaging stories, song lyrics, andpoems, including the well-known Call Me Child of God ... NotThose People. The story of her growing up in a large Irish Catholicworking-class family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, draws togetherthe experiences of living in poverty, the role of the church andmusic in her life, and the many remarkable people who populatedher life and the lives of her family.
The author describes economic hardship and social challenges asbeing as "regular as the turning seasons in my coming up years,"and refers to her life in poverty as the "soil of my art." Through herstories and reflections, Julia Dinsmore puts a face on poverty andchallenges readers to answer God's call to respond to poverty andits effects.
Shockwaves 978-1-941243-96-1
A long-time defender of life and frequent speaker on EWTN, Janet Morana details the devastating effects of abortion through in-depth, first-person accounts of mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, doctors, and clinic workers who are impacted by the loss of a child to abortion. Realizing the serious, long-term effects on society and on the many people who are impacted will inspire us to promote and pray for an end to abortion.
Among the Features of this Book:
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Abortion is often framed as a personal decision affecting only the mother and the unborn child, but its impact extends far beyond. A wider circle of victims--fathers, siblings, grandparents, and society as a whole--often experiences profound emotional, psychological, and moral consequences.Fathers, though frequently overlooked, can suffer intense grief, guilt, and powerlessness, especially if they had no say in the decision. Many men struggle silently, carrying emotional wounds that affect their relationships and self-identity. Siblings of aborted children may also experience a sense of loss or survivor's guilt, questioning why their lives were spared while their brother or sister was not. This unspoken absence can affect family dynamics and the way children perceive the value of life.
Grandparents, too, are deeply affected. Many mourn the loss of a grandchild they never had the chance to know. Some grapple with regret if they encouraged the abortion, while others feel helpless if they opposed it but were unable to prevent it.
Beyond the family, abortion has societal consequences. The loss of millions of unborn lives affects demographics, labor forces, and cultural attitudes toward the sanctity of life. A society that devalues its most vulnerable members risks fostering a culture of disposability, where human worth is contingent on convenience rather than inherent dignity. Ultimately, abortion's reach extends far beyond the womb, leaving emotional, spiritual, and societal scars that often go unacknowledged.
With its beautiful beaches and golf courses, the island of the Dominican Republic is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Yet when missionary priest Fr. Christopher Hartley arrived in the country in 1997, he discovered another side to this paradise: the deplorable living and working conditions of the people who harvest the country's sugarcane, and the illegal human trafficking that brings them to the plantations as slaves.
Inspired by the Gospels and Mother Teresa, Fr. Hartley carried out intense evangelization efforts in his large parish, which included several cane cutter camps. He brought the Good News of salvation in Christ and the sacraments of the Church to many workers and their families whose unjust treatment was being ignored at every level of society. Drawing from the social teachings of the Church, he denounced the exploitation, including in a speech before the president of the Dominican Republic and in meetings with the owners of the plantations. Because of his strong criticism, he endured harsh treatment, was threatened with death, and eventually had to leave the country. This book chronicles Fr. Hartley's missionary work in the Dominican Republic. It includes detailed letters he wrote to his friends and benefactors about the needs of his people and the injustices they endured. Filled with rich spiritual reflections and apostolic passion, his letters tell heart-wrenching stories of human misery while revealing the deep and abiding faith he found among the poor.
Winner of a second-place award in the category gender issues, inclusion in the Church from the Catholic Media Association.
What would happen if gay Christians began to believe the truth about God--that he loves all people unconditionally?In Tenderness, Catholic writer and speaker Eve Tushnet says trusting God's love would be the beginning of a transformation, not only in the lives of gay Christians but also in the Body of Christ itself. She offers hope and companionship to those who have been deeply hurt by their parishes, a wound that also damaged their relationship with God. Tushnet also offers practical guidance from her own journey as a celibate lesbian.
Tenderness explores scripture and history to find role models for gay Christians--including Jesus, King David, Ruth, St. John, Mary, poets, mystics, penitents, leaders, and ordinary gay people who have found unexpected paths of love. The book also offers guidance on living through or recovering from the painful experiences that are all too common in gay Christian life--from familial rejection and weaponized Christianity to ambivalence and doubt. Weaving her own story with resources, prayers, and practical actions that can help gay people trust that God loves them, Tushnet renews our understandings of kinship, friendship, celibacy and unmarried life, ordered love, personal integrity, solidarity with the marginalized, obedience, surrender, sanctification, and hope.
This book is primarily for gay Christians, but it also offers a window into their experiences and needs that will make it useful for anyone in pastoral care or who wants to be a better friend to the gay people they know.
What if racial reconciliation doesn't look like what you expected? The high-profile killings of young black men and women by white police officers, and the protests and violence that ensued, have convinced many white Christians to reexamine their intuitions when it comes to race and justice.
In this provocative book, theologian and blogger Drew G. I. Hart places police brutality, mass incarceration, anti-black stereotypes, poverty, and everyday acts of racism within the larger framework of white supremacy. He argues that white Christians have repeatedly gotten it wrong about race because dominant culture and white privilege have so thoroughly shaped their assumptions. He also challenges black Christians about neglecting the most vulnerable in their own communities. Leading readers toward Jesus, Hart offers concrete practices for churches that seek solidarity with the oppressed and are committed to racial justice.
What if all Christians listened to the stories of those on the racialized margins? How might the church be changed by the trouble they've seen?
"This book is a gift from the heart of one of the sharpest young theologians in the United States. Hold it carefully, and allow it to transform you--and our blood-stained streets."--Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution
Free downloadable study guide available here.
"At this moment, I see the Church on the edge of a precipice. . . . What happened during the sack of Constantinople comes to mind, when the Turks besieged the city, and at the moment of greatest danger, the theologians were caught up in debating among themselves about the color of Our Lady's eyes." Thus states Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Benedict XVI and foremost defender of the traditional Church, who, for the first time, narrates from the inside some of the most significant episodes of the last two pontificates.
In this riveting, thorough, and uncensored interview by Vatican correspondent Franca Giansoldati, the German theologian explains the doctrinal confusion wrought by various themes of the Francis papacy that risks fanning the flames of heresies old and new. With a magnifying glass, he examines topics ranging from Vatican foreign policy to the handling of the pedophilia scandals, from gender, abortion, and end of life to the abdication of Benedict XVI, from the Ukraine war to the risk of schism and predictions for the next conclave.
In these pages, you will discover:
The candid and revelatory answers to these and many other questions enliven Cardinal Müller's reflections and provide an antidote to the twenty-first century's profound crisis of religion. Readers will come to appreciate the balance required between obedience in the Church and defense of the truth, how attempts to protestantize the Church are destroying faith in the true Christ and the sacraments, and the bold solutions the cardinal offers to set the Church on a path to authentic reform.
"Don't be so judgmental!"
"Why are Christians so intolerant?"
"Why can't we just coexist?"
In an age in which preference has replaced morality, many people find it difficult to speak the truth, afraid of the reactions they will receive if they say something is right or wrong. Using engaging stories and personal experience, Edward Sri helps us understand the classical view of morality and equips us to engage relativism, appealing to both the head and the heart. Learn how Catholic morality is all about love, why making a judgment is not judging a person's soul, and why, in the words of Pope Francis, "relativism wounds people." Topics include:
- Real Freedom, Real Love
- Sharing truth with compassion
- Why "I disagree" doesn't mean "I hate you"
Because events in the Middle East continue to escalate in tragic complexity, Christians still struggle with making sense of it all. In this updated version of Whose Land? Whose Promise?, Gary Burge further explores the personal emotions and opinions, and sharpens his theological argument in the context of the new developments surrounding the crisis in the Middle East. Whose Land? Whose Promise? offers insight for the thoughtful reader on an explosive topic and challenges personal truths on peace.
As the nation watched the protests, riots, and civil unrest unfold during the summer of 2020, Pastor James E. Ward, Jr.'s seminal message was heard from coast-to-coast on local airwaves to CNN. On national live television, he called for America to address a "spiritual and moral law" crisis to heal and reconcile the country. He warned Americans to push away victimhood identities and develop a new attitude in Christ.
The "Zero Victim" message is one that James has been preaching, teaching, and writing about for years. Today, his message takes on new meaning for a generation of Americans who are hurting and seeking real and lasting change in our culture. His words will set you free from fear, anxiety, depression, and discouragement.