A God-shaped hole resides within the human heart

The German philosopher Nietzsche once described Christianity as a religion of the weak. He argued that religion, especially Christianity, denied the human person free will because it removed the freedom to make choices by relying on a God who, he argued, does not exist.

100 days: Pope Francis off to invigorating start

As we mark Pope Francis’ first 100 days in office, it would be impossible to argue that they have been anything other than successful. Some might say wildly successful.

Jesus’ call is an invitation

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) June 30 (Kings 19:16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9:51-62)

Elisha was completely blindsided. As he went out to plow that morning, he probably thought the day would be like any other, but his life would never be the same.

Haste leads to spiritual blindness

Haste is our enemy. It puts us under stress, raises our blood pressure, makes us impatient, renders us more vulnerable to accidents and, most serious of all, blinds us to the needs of others. Haste is normally not a virtue, irrespective of the goodness of whatever it is we are hurrying towards.

Pope calls for 'revolutionaries' to change hearts by sharing God's love

VATICAN CITY - Christians are called to be revolutionaries, changing the world one heart at a time, Pope Francis said.

Pope: Politics, economics must serve all people, protect poor, unborn

VATICAN CITY - The goal of politics and economics is to serve all of humanity, starting with the poorest, the most vulnerable and the unborn, Pope Francis told British Prime Minister David Cameron, president of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

Manila cardinal takes delayed possession of his titular church in Rome

ROME - "We've been waiting a long time," Capuchin Father Gianfranco Palmisani told Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, who showed up a few minutes late to officially take possession of his "titular" church on the Eastern outskirts of Rome.

Pope, Anglican archbishop pledge to work for unity

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, pledged to support each other with their prayers and to continue the search for full unity between their communities.

Playing it safe is not Christian discipleship

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) June 23 (Zechariah 12:10-11; Psalm 63; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 9:18-24)

Zechariah’s cryptic prophecy presents us with a question: Who was the one who was pierced and why? These and other questions remain unanswered from the historical point of view.

In praise of fathers, warts and all

Each year we celebrate Father’s Day, a day on which we’re asked to get in touch with the gratitude we should feel towards our fathers. For some of us this is easy, we had good fathers; but for many it’s difficult. How do you feel gratitude if your father was someone who was mostly absent or abusive?

No yellow brick road leads us to God

The Wizard of Oz is a true classic movie. One of my favourite scenes is when Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion arrive to see the Wizard.