Many Christians think patriotism means believing God has granted the United States a special role in history—but is this what patriotism is? Tune in to this episode of Glad You Asked and hear Lewis Brogdon discuss whether patriotism is a Christian virtue.

Excommunication, which derives from the Latin for “out of communion,” is a penalty the church imparts for certain serious ecclesial or moral crimes, usually those that could create scandal if allowed to go unaddressed. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202407/what-is-excommunication/

The words of the gospel are the words of everlasting life. They are not meant to be packaged by an algorithm or proclaimed in a generic template. In my piece for @uscatholic.bsky.social, I make the case for why parishes should avoid the use of AI in their graphics.

At their best, the missionary is a continuation of the Pentecost experience, of experiencing an encounter with Christ in all tongues, languages, and cultures. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/todays-missionaries-reconsider-how-they-approach-their-work/

Motherhood inspired Katie Holler to found the Dorothea Project, a group of Catholic women pushing Catholic clergy and laypeople to do more to protect immigrants. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/meet-the-catholic-mom-organizing-for-immigrant-advocacy/

Separation of church and state—and its corresponding notion of religious freedom—is bigger than just another political or legal disagreement. These are essential elements of our rights in this country. Eroding that wall of separation puts these rights at risk.

As temperatures rise, heat-related illnesses and deaths are increasing. Agricultural workers (many of whom are undocumented) are more than 35 times more likely to die from exposure to extreme heat than workers from all other sectors combined.

In his new book, Pagliarulo participates in the sacred work of finding and affirming the queerness of the saints we know and those we do not. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/a-new-book-on-queer-saints-affirms-our-call-to-radical-love/

As the federal government is promising to deport immigrants en masse, what does it mean to "welcome the stranger"? On this episode of the podcast, the hosts talk to moral theologian Therese Cory about the Catholic Church's teachings on deportation.

Many believers—and ex-believers—carry “hell trauma." Not only is hell trauma widespread, but many people who reexamine and deconstruct some of their beliefs realize how the teaching is weaponized at the expense of marginalized groups.

We asked readers to share their thoughts on whether it is morally permissible for the church to profit from oil and gas leasing. Over 70% of those who responded said the church should stop profiting from fossil fuel extraction as soon as possible, even if it lowers revenue.

Yes, there is a time and a place for some AI tools—but in the list of daily tasks that might benefit from delegation to artificial intelligence, communication with the faithful should not be one of them. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/ai-has-no-place-in-the-parish-bulletin/

The transfer was part of the beginning of a larger movement of reconciliation between white settler communities and the Indigenous and Black communities they have harmed. In other parts of the country, people of faith have made similar moves.

For the fifth year in a row, the Catholic Media Association named U.S. Catholic Magazine of the Year in the National General Interest Magazine category. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/u-s-catholic-wins-magazine-of-the-year-for-fifth-year-running/

Canon law never defines marriage to a non-Catholic in moral terms. Rather, it emphasizes the potential challenges such marriages may pose, and the importance of informed, responsible consent among partners. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/can-a-catholic-marry-a-non-catholic/

An anchorage gave a woman something not available to most women in the Middle Ages: what Virginia Woolf called “a room of one’s own”—a protected, private space where the creative, spiritual, and intellectual life could flourish.

Today is the feast of St. Thomas More. As public life once again tests the boundaries between faith, conscience, and political power, More’s life reminds us how easily power corrupts—and how costly it can be to take a stand rooted in both faith and integrity.

Instead of throwing out the metaphor of God the father, consider our images of fathers. God is not an absentee father off in some heavenly office, coming home only to keep his kids in line. Picture instead a loving father staring in wonder at his child.

Juneteenth is a celebration which, even as it is borne out of a racist past, centers around Black freedom rather than on the fact that the Confederacy prevented the proclamation of that freedom. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202306/juneteenth-celebrates-black-joy-and-christian-hope/

Fiber arts are too hastily devalued because of their association with women—yet sewing, knitting, and other techniques are essential in clothing a people and constructing better futures for communities.

Although every Catholic liturgy includes readings from Hebrew scriptures and the Christian gospels, as well as a smattering from Psalms and the epistles, Catholics have long had a reputation for being Bible-illiterate. Unfortunately, the stereotype has some basis in fact.

Throughout history, there have been many Catholic saints who developed a love for the natural wonders of God’s creation. Here are some saints and other well-known Catholics to help inspire you this gardening season. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202403/7-saints-for-gardeners/

It's basic theology that God is not male. Putting this belief into practice could enrich the life of the church and our pastoral care for the people in it. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202305/toward-a-theology-of-a-queer-god/

Somehow St. Germaine found a way to survive and to let her own spirit thrive in the midst of horrific treatment. It would be a mistake, however, to read her story as a pass to let abuse happen unchallenged. https://uscatholic.org/articles/201605/retelling-the-cinderella-story-of-st-germaine-cousin/

Is our vast increase in defense spending creating or undermining global security? Is this the best use of our national treasure? Citizens in other advanced economies take for granted social services that many Americans pine for.

Many believe that devotion to the Sacred Heart originated with the mystical visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. However, the practice has its roots in the third century and the devotion to the Five Wounds.

Learning to let our yes be yes and our no be no is a family practice. We try to speak honestly, listen generously, and repair things when our words cause harm. In the short run, that kind of mindful communication requires patience.

The Aztec Dance of the Concheros is the continuation of the Mexika-Tenochca Teo-Chichicameca dance traditions dating back to before the Conquest of the Americas. Originally, these dances honored figures from the Aztec pantheon.

In this month's Sounding Board essay, Shannon Wimp Schmidt argues that boycotts, though inconvenient, are a natural extension of Catholic social teaching in action. Do you participate in boycotts? Should the Catholic Church encourage boycotts of unethical companies? Take our survey.

In his new book, historian David F. Evans looks at how white Christian progressives of the 20th century frequently failed in racial solidarity—and what we can learn from those missteps. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/white-christians-lack-good-role-models-for-racial-solidarity/

Foundational principles of the Catholic faith carry direct implications for how communities respond to violence that targets marginalized communities, which not only destroys individual lives but wounds the social fabric itself.

Reflection: Receive the gift, and with it, transform the world. Michael Centore reflects on the readings for the Feast of Corpus Christi. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/a-sunday-reflection-for-june-7-2026/

What does it mean to pray? Are there things we should or shouldn't pray for? And do our prayers get answered? On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk with award-winning writer Laura Kelly Fanucci about what prayer can and cannot do.

If we are made in God's image, our lives cannot be only about personal rights or private choices. They must be shaped by love and focused on the good of everyone, especially those who are vulnerable. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202606/a-chaplain-calls-us-to-work-to-end-gun-violence/

In the Catholic church, marriage is considered one of the seven sacraments—so it comes with a lot of theological import attached. Because of this, the process of getting married within the church can be quite long and complex.

The Catholic Church’s principles on immigration have their roots in scripture, tradition, and magisterial teaching. Both the Hebrew scriptures and Christian scriptures reiterate the moral obligation to “welcome the stranger.”

How should one who wishes to travel ethically think about economics, sustainability, and culture? Does your faith shape how you travel? Is it even ethical to travel in the first place? Take our reader survey here, and share your thoughts.

While key Catholic leaders call the church and the culture to nonviolence, what this means in practice can become complicated. How can we implement nonviolence in a way that avoids the problematic practices associated with some movements past and present?

The burdens of AI's harms—pollution, water scarcity—are not equally shared. Since many data centers are built in economically vulnerable rural areas, already disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected.

During the Cold War in the 1950s, as studios faced threats from Congress regarding individuals accused of left-wing affiliation, the studios banished hundreds of actors, writers, and directors from employment. Now, many Palestinian films struggle to find U.S. distributors.

The Sacred Heart and devotion to it are not inaccessible to queer Catholics. In fact, queer Catholics' experience of marginalization in the church and society may allow us a distinct and valuable insight into how Christ’s heart beats, into who God is.

We are made in the image of the Trinity—and this means love. Angelo Kurbanali reflects on the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202605/a-sunday-reflection-for-may-31-2026/

On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talked to three guests from different backgrounds and Christian affiliations about what young people want from the church. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202605/what-do-young-people-want-from-the-church-baird-linke-catalina-morales-and-drew-stever/

In 'Magnifica Humanitas' Leo envisions humanity working together at the “construction site of hope,” where “coexistence and peace” are built through direct political action, albeit in “slower, less visible, and less spectacular” ways.

How can Catholics travel ethically? uscatholic.org/articles/202... #DanHoran @uscatholic.bsky.social

U.S. Catholic's editor-in-chief Ferdinand Okorie will be a guest editor for a special issue of Religions, an interdisciplinary scholarly journal. The theme is the Christian heritage and the experience of a believing community. Submissions will be accepted until October 16, 2026.

If we only use only male language for God, however, this furthers a notion that males are more god-like than females. Yet Genesis makes it clear that men and women are both made in God’s image.

Throughout history, various movements have sought to suppress people who don’t fit in narrow, approved boxes. Such movements always arise out of fear, and end in horror. How much richer life is when, instead of recoiling in the face of the unfamiliar, we cultivate curiosity, humility, and affection.

Communion is not a vague symbol of a distant deity but a tangible blessing of nourishment for very real human bodies in a real and hurting world. After all, Jesus gave his friends the sacrament of communion to sustain them for the pending horrors of state violence and trauma.

How should one who wishes to travel ethically think about economics, sustainability, and culture? Is it even ethical to travel in the first place? Take our reader survey. https://uscatholic.org/articles/202605/how-can-catholics-travel-ethically/