In its origins, Ash Wednesday was fundamentally oriented toward penance, which was also the focus of Lent at that time. Lent is understood differently today: Its primary focus is now, as at its origins, baptism. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202002/what-is-ash-wednesday/

Part of living out the healing mission of Jesus entails tearing down social stigmas and barriers to health. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/public-health-is-part-of-the-churchs-mission/

What has been your impression of Pope Leo in the past year? How do you think his papacy compares to Pope Francis'? What direction do you hope to see the church take under Leo's leadership? Take our survey and let us know what you think about Leo's first year.

Too often Christians have joined the nostalgic chorus that rejects change and diversity—but change is necessary along the road of reconciliation, and no one is excluded from God's loving mercy. The diverse foods we partake of, on Fat Tuesday and entering Lent, remind us of these fundamental truths.

Catholic doctrine is clear that God creates all human beings in God’s own “image and likeness” and relates to humans as a loving parent to their children. Therefore, God’s deepest desire is for all to be saved—which means that a kind of universalism is already alive in God’s work of creation.

I’ve often wondered why God, in Jesus, chose to come into this world incarnate as a baby in a vulnerable community occupied by a violent government. God could have come at any time into any group of people; could have come in power, or, at least, in peace.

In many cultures, Mardi Gras—or Carnival—has a double meaning as a celebration of emancipation. Whether through food or festivals, it’s well worth celebrating being free from shackles before embarking on the journey of Lent. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202302/is-mardi-gras-a-catholic-holiday/

What has been your impression of Pope Leo? How do you think his papacy compares to Pope Francis'? What direction do you hope to see the church take under his leadership? How was Leo's first year? Take our survey here. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/how-was-pope-leos-first-year/

Solar industry maverick Page Gravely works to make clean energy accessible to churches—despite political obstacles. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/the-republican-episcopalian-helping-the-catholic-church-go-solar/

Recently appointed by Pope Leo XIV, Archbishop Ronald Hicks aims to foster a missionary church in his new archdiocese. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/new-yorks-new-archbishop-envisions-a-church-in-service-of-all/

Backed by powerful names like 50 Cent, one of the executive producers, as well as Wiz Khalifa and Omar Epps, who play prominent characters, the film tells the story of a 4th-century saint and a modern Chicago gangster, both of whom wrestle with their violent pasts.

Sociologist Tia Noelle Pratt's new book tells the story of Black Catholics' immense contributions to the church in the United States. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/black-catholics-devotion-and-resilience-should-inspire-us-all/

In 1858, Mary appeared to a poor teenager named Bernadette near a site that served as the town’s dump. The story of Lourdes continues to offer comfort to people who experience sickness, chronic pain, and disability. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202412/a-liberatory-look-at-marian-apparitions/

Well-intentioned pleas not to politicize the Eucharist miss this theological truth: the Body of Christ can't be disconnected from politics. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/the-eucharist-is-inherently-political/

By asserting the preeminence of the abortion issue and leaning into ideology that refuses to allow for dialogue, the church has ensured that many of its members would become one-issue voters, neglecting or perpetuating other harms against the vulnerable.

Universal childcare may not be cheap, but it is a vital investment in families' well-being, and the future our children will inherit. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/will-mamdanis-experiment-in-universal-child-care-pay-off/

'Task' invites reflection on the meaning of family and the complicated nature of forgiveness. The show provides Catholics with an uncommon protagonist: a former priest who now investigates criminals and puts himself at risk of being in the line of fire.

Black Power galvanized Black Catholic activists, many Black priests and nuns taking heed of its self-determinist message. Some argued that Black parishes needed Black clergy, while others joined forces with the Chicago branch of the Black Panther Party.

We must let the cracks show, for through the cracks, the light enters. Through the cracks, we see the shaky foundation and the fault lines on which this nation was built: racism, colonialism, an obsession with power that displaced, killed, abused, and enslaved—all in the name of Jesus.

Veronica doesn’t fix anything. She doesn’t prevent or postpone Jesus’ crucifixion, or even lighten Jesus’ load, as Simon does before her. She simply extends an act of tender care. It’s care that isn’t a means to an end but merely is what it is: kindness shown in a moment of suffering.

Volume two of Father James Martin's popular prayer guide "is a lovely and accessible resource for anyone seeking to get closer to God—whether they consider themselves proficient at praying or don’t know where to start building a prayer practice of their own." https://uscatholic.org/usc-book-club/

The Haitian refugees’ deep Christian faith makes them rely on God. And the church will remain at their side. “We are here to provide the works of mercy,” says Tony Stieritz, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio.

“God is on the side of the oppressed. How can we stay silent? The church always has to raise its voice.” https://uscatholic.org/articles/202602/at-an-ice-detention-center-liturgy-becomes-protest/

When we flatten narratives about Black Catholics, we miss out on a rich cultural tradition of activism, spirituality, and scholarship. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202511/the-black-catholic-intellectual-tradition-is-vital-to-the-church/

In this month's Sounding Board essay, theologian Dan Horan challenges us to expand our concept of personhood beyond humanity. Do you believe non-human animals can be persons? What makes a being a person in the first place? Take our survey here.

A new ESPN documentary shows how this athlete was a gamechanger for equal rights on and off the court. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/tennis-champion-billie-jean-king-is-a-role-model-for-reconciliation/

Given his radical availability to individuals and crowds, it’s no surprise that sometimes Jesus needed to get away from it all for the sake of his own healing and restoration. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/jesus-beckons-us-to-silence-as-a-source-of-healing/

Well-intentioned pleas not to politicize the Eucharist miss this theological truth: the Body of Christ can't be disconnected from politics. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/the-eucharist-is-inherently-political/

Catholic sisters are using shareholder advocacy to hold companies accountable and leverage real change that supports the common good and human dignity. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/sisters-use-corporate-investments-to-push-for-reform/

In some circles, Aquinas has become equated with black-and-white thinking. Yet such branding is not only inaccurate but ironic, since Aquinas’ theological method is antithetical to culture war thinking. Aquinas modeled how to engage with other, even non-Christian, ideas of his day.

Since Pope Francis’ 2018 amendment to the Catechism of the Catholic Church stating that the death penalty was “morally inadmissible” and that the church “works for its abolition worldwide,” the American church has become increasingly coherent in its anti-death penalty stance.

Christians are called to look past the flags and bumper stickers, denominations and political parties: The Catholic church is inclusive by design. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/being-catholic-means-putting-universal-community-first/

In this month's Sounding Board essay, theologian Dan Horan challenges us to expand our concept of personhood beyond humanity. What do you think? Do you believe non-human animals can be persons? Take our survey here.

While Catholics who oppose legal prohibitions against abortion are censured, Catholics perpetuating violence, misogyny, and racism are given a pass. By focusing on one type of harm while acquiescing to other grave harms, the church has given the impression that those other harms are permissible.

The practice of listening for a guiding word comes from the wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers, who sought the presence of the divine. This tradition was a way of seeking something to ponder for days, weeks, months, or sometimes a whole lifetime.

The perennial question of women’s roles in the life of the church is not limited to the diaconate alone. But the larger conversation on women’s roles has often lacked urgency, transparency, and genuine discernment—and in some spaces, even compassion.

In her biography of Augustine, Conybeare reclaims his North African identity, exploring how his cultural context set the stage for his writings. She demonstrates how Augustine—and, by extension, core ideas of Christian thought—are grounded in this context.

In place of our current binary approach to abortion, consider a holistic perspective informed by Scripture and the example of Jesus. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/pro-life-pro-choice-try-being-pro-grace-instead/

When words lose their force, when we don’t know what to say, neutrality starts to feel tempting. If we can’t add anything to the conversation, if it’s all been said before, then why should we raise our voice? This, too, is how violence advances.

Like with China’s one-child error, the damage to the United States, from the administration's xenophobic hostility to immigrants, is completely self-inflicted.

Today, women and Black Americans have the right to vote. Jim Crow laws are a thing of the past. Our workdays last eight hours. Children don’t work in the mines. There is a minimum wage. All these basic protections were won by protesters.

The loss of USAID has been devastating for Nigeria. But Catholic sisters continue to care for those in need, even when the world turns away. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/despite-usaid-cuts-nigerian-sisters-continue-mission-of-care/

One potential problem is that a depiction of Jesus’ life that tells us only what everyone “already knows” actually tells us less than that—because what we know so well in one sense, we see only dimly in another. Paradoxically, overfamiliarity obscures the text.

Christians are called to look past the flags and bumper stickers, denominations and political parties: The catholic church is inclusive by design. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202601/being-catholic-means-putting-universal-community-first/

According to a 2022 Pew Research Center study, 39 percent of Americans believe that “we are living in the end times.” That number jumps to 63 precent for evangelical Protestants, but is still 27 percent for Catholics.

Bishops in the United States have threatened to deny communion to politicians such as John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, and former President Joe Biden over their public support for legal abortion—an approach many people decried as weaponizing the sacrament.

Shelley’s novel places Victor in the role of an abandoning mother—birthing his child then, horrified by his abnormal appearance, running away. In del Toro’s version, Victor is framed more as a bad father who is overly demanding in his expectations for his offspring.

Calling all poets! See our website for submission details.

The problem is, practically no one outside of the White House is interested in reviving coal. The president may succeed only in driving up energy costs for American consumers, who will be deprived of new capacity from what had been a rapidly expanding clean energy sector.

How has being online shaped your identity, faith, or politics? Has your online experience been positive or negative? And how might the church address the moral impact of our digital lives? Take U.S. Catholic's survey on internet culture and ethics.