From early 2010 until September 2018 I wrote a column for the online edition of The National Catholic Reporter. My last NCR column was published Sept. 11, 2018. I have preserved links to them here.
You can read them by clicking on one or all of these links:
* Sept. 11, 2018: "We are all 'priests': Lay people, not ordained, hold church power"
* Aug. 10, 2018: "On 9/11 anniversary, demand politicians learn from our failures"
* July 10, 2018: "My sister's memories bring trauma of child separation home"
* June 8, 2018: "Reflecting on the recent past can lead ecumenical dialogue forward"
* May 8, 2018: "Bible literacy requires more than grasping meaning"
* April 8, 2018: "Use idea of 'meanwhile' to recognize how far we've come"
* March 8, 2018: "Father Norm Rotert's legacy still inspires community action"
* Feb. 8, 2018: "Catholic funerals are consistently better theologically"
* Jan. 8, 2018: "Evangelicals, non-evangelicals are divided by a common religion"
* Dec. 9, 2017: "It's time for Christianity to re-emphasize resurrection of the body"
* Nov. 8, 2017: "'Be the Church Sunday' reminds us to go beyond church walls"
* Oct. 9, 2017: "Protestant or Catholic, we're theological and biblical illiterates"
* Sept. 9, 2017: "Past battles don't have to concern Protestants, Catholics today"
* Aug. 8, 2017: "Consistency, change run through Presbyterian history"
* July 10, 2017: "The pluses and minuses of married priests"
* June 8, 2017: "Maybe it's time to reconsider calling priests 'father'"
* May 8, 2017: "With declining numbers, women religious are invisible to many non-Catholics"
* April 8, 2017: "It may be time to radically rethink ordination"
* March 8, 2017: "Delve into the Bible for Reformation anniversary"
* Feb. 8, 2017: "Nothing focuses the mind like death."
* Jan. 9, 2017: "How can 21st century minds draw meaning out of Marian apparitions?"
* Dec. 8, 2016: "Beware the Prosperity Gospel of the Trump administration"
* Nov. 23, 2016: "Write down doubts and certainties to live an examined faith"
* Nov. 9, 2016: "After 500 years Christian unity still seems far off"
* Oct. 26, 2016: "Reformation anniversary is a chance to move the church forward"
* Oct. 12, 2016: "How can we be peacemakers in a violent world?"
* Sept. 28, 2016: "People of faith still need to respond to AIDS"
* Sept. 14, 2016: "False religious certitude can lead to faith-based violence"
* Aug. 31, 2016: "Christians should care about for-profit prisons"
* Aug. 17, 2016: "Memory is the key to a more hopeful future"
* Aug. 3, 2016: "Interfaith dialogue should start with respect"
* July 20, 2016: "Preserve Elie Wiesel's legacy: Remember Holocaust stories"
* July 6, 2016: "Devil not yet deleted from official church texts"
* June 22, 2016: "It may be time to rethink papal infallibility"
* June 8, 2016: "Methodist General Conference has lessons for Christianity's other branches"
* May 25, 2016: "Religious leaders need sabbaticals"
* May 11, 2016: "Catholic authors help us accept frustrations in the world of faith"
* April 27, 2016: "Presbyterians have a voice and a vote"
* April 13, 2016: "We do have control over our nation's politics"
* March 30, 2016: "Many Christian pastors offer bad theology about death and suffering"
* March 16, 2016: "Abortion before the Supreme Court: Four decades and no consensus"
* March 2, 2016: "Neither uncomfortable nor a heretic: Being out of sync with your religion"
* Feb. 17, 2016: "Interfaith connections need not be frightening"
* Feb. 3, 2016: "Frustrations from serving in 'The Field Hospital'"
* Jan. 17, 2016: "What religious leaders are saying online about gun control"
* Jan. 6, 2016: "Exploring common ground between Protestants and Catholics"
* Dec. 23, 2015: "Vatican document represents important step in repenting of past sins against Jews"
* Dec. 9, 2015: "'Spotlight' shows importance of investigative journalism"
* Nov. 25, 2015: "Meeting theologian René Girard"
* Nov. 11, 2015: "Converts like Robert Lax bring something fresh"
* Oct. 28, 2015: "Families are not the church"
* Oct. 14, 2015: "The U.S. all-volunteer military system is unjust"
* Oct. 7, 2015: "Challengers help Catholics, others say vibrant"
* Sept. 16, 2015: "Healthy ecumenical dialogue between Protestants and Catholics"
* Sept. 2, 2015: "Churches should be willing, able to engage hard questions"
* Aug. 19, 2015: "Presbyterian-Jewish relations: Steps to mend a broken relationship"
* Aug. 5, 2015: "What might it mean to enjoy God?"
* July 22, 2015: "To create religious harmony we must first build the chords"
* July 8, 2015: "People of faith are responsible for serving as society's conscience"
* June 24, 2015: "Dietrich Bonhoeffer: a model for engaging with a faith different from one's own"
* June 10, 2015: "Seeking common ground across the branches of Christianity"
* May 27, 2015: "A new understanding of the Apostle Paul"
* May 13, 2015: "We need not succumb to revenge when faced with evil"
* April 29, 2015: "The unique gifts women can bring to the role of pastor"
* April 15, 2015: "The faith community's role in identifying public immorality"
* April 1, 2015: "Environmentally, an unbridled, run-amok growth is killing us"
* March 18, 2015: "It's not too late to listen to what Thomas Merton says about violence"
* March 4, 2015: "Why God matters to me and I matter to God"
* Feb. 18, 2015: "How churches can keep up with the evolving definition of marriage"
* Feb. 4, 2015: "What happens when religion becomes devoid of spirit and awe?"
* Jan. 21, 2015: "Opening minds with the Bible's books of the apocrypha"
* Jan. 7, 2015: "Funerals should celebrate life but also tell the gospel story."
* Dec. 24, 2014: "The death penalty will exist as long as people of faith stay silent"
* Dec. 10, 2014: "Removal of church leaders should require due process of our own hearts"
* Nov. 26, 2014: "Relics mean something but not everything"
* Nov. 12, 2014: "One way to live Matthew 25: Learn to be a healing presence"
* Oct. 29, 2014: "Marriages start in a church but where is the church when they end?"
* Oct. 15, 2014: "Hope for a 'more friendly fellowship' courtesy of the Parliament of the World's Religions"
* Oct. 1, 2014: "The NFL reflects the worst of our humanity"
* Sept. 17, 2014: "Church dialogue on race necessary after recent turmoil"
* Sept. 3, 2014: "Let's commit to forging lasting bonds between Christians and Muslims"
* Aug. 20, 2014: "It's past time to update seminaries for a 21st Century church"
* Aug. 6, 2014: "No simple solution to uneven relations between Christians and Jews"
* July 23, 2014: "Church membership drooping but U.S. still profoundly religious"
* July 9, 2014: "Diverse future a blessing for Illinois hometown"
* June 25, 2014: "Bout of illness a reminder to seek empathy, not sympathy"
* June 11, 2014: "Rise of women in religion something to encourage"
* May 28, 2014: "Jesus spends a little time with his kitchen -- and kitchen cabinet"
* May 14, 2014: "Navajo cross a reminder to keep an open mind in faith debates"
* April 30, 2014: "Religion and science share the same roots: Awe and wonder"
* April 16, 2014: "The Myth of Matthew 16:18 as the end-all, be-all of Catholicism"
* April 2, 2014: "Christians benefit from exposure to wildly diverse world of faith"
* March 19, 2014: "A Protestant's critique of Pope Francis' first year in office"
* March 5, 2014: "Churches need clear mission statements"
* Feb. 19, 2014: "There is power -- and responsibility -- in electing your own religious leaders"
* Feb. 5, 2014: "If the church isn't about Jesus it isn't about anything"
* Jan. 22, 2014: "Fascination with Pope Francis stirs Protestant hearts"
* Jan. 8, 2014: "The high cost of getting Christian history wrong"
* Dec. 25, 2013: "Bold predictions of the biggest religion news stories of 2014"
* Dec. 11, 2013: "Death is an uncomfortable fact of life. .."
* Nov. 27, 2013: "Squabbles within a faith should matter less than outer message"
* Nov. 13, 2013: "Exploring the true meaning of being anti-Catholic"
* Oct. 30, 2013: "An open letter to Pope Francis about Bishop Robert Finn"
* Oct. 16, 2013: "Theological ignorance an embarrassment that should be fixed"
* Oct. 2, 2013: "Failure of culture to accept people of all backgrounds is mystifying"
* Sept. 18, 2013: "How do you contemplate the Whac-a-Mole issue of hell?"
* Sept 4, 2013: "Don't discount Pope Benedict's conversation with God."
* Aug. 21, 2013: "Faith calls for being silly, naive in order to be Christ-like."
* Aug. 7, 2013: "Catholic-Lutheran joint celebration a good start."
* July 24, 2013: "History will be kinder if we develop a better theological imagination."
* July 10, 2013: "Faith communities should do more to confront gun idolatry"
* June 26, 2013: "Jesus' universal nature is an inspiration to make the church universal"
* June 12, 2013: "Could Catholicism survive thousands of years down the road?"
* May 29, 2013: "Pope Francis should tread carefully when speaking of non-Catholics"
* May 15, 2013: "Why it's OK to criticize capitalism"
* May 1, 2013: "Pope Francis and his Protestant views"
* April 17, 2013: "When dealing with fear, remember the Beatitudes' poor in spirit"
* April 3, 2013: "Francis' first weeks maintain church sameness while offering some new views"
* March 20, 2013: "Status of abortion, death penalty in Cathlic teaching makes little sense"
* March 6, 2013: "We can't pretend Americans have always favored religious freedom"
* Feb. 20, 2013: "Presbyterian-run Catholic Worker house does things backwards--like Jesus."
* Feb. 6, 2013: "The Complexities of Forgiveness are Difficult to Unwrap"
* Jan. 23, 2013: "Küng's disagreements with Vatican spark comparison with Protestant views"
* Jan. 9, 2013: "A gift to Presbyterians that Catholics should be able to enjoy"
* Dec. 26, 2012: "What this Presbyterian loves about the Catholic Church"
* Dec. 12, 2012: "Someone should tell Finn to step down if he won't do it himself"
* Nov. 28, 2012: "Pattern of caring, bearing, sharing a gift from religious congregations"
* Nov. 14, 2012: "Good can happen when faiths work together"
* Oct. 31, 2012: "Pressures off for Protestants now that they're not the majority"
* Oct. 17, 2012: "50 years after Vatican II, faith and culture operate at different speeds"
* Oct. 3, 2012: "The economy should not be politicians' golden calf"
* Sept. 19, 2012: "Why the vitriol when discussing religious liberty today?"
* Sept. 5, 2012: "Kansas City diocese's ombudsman talks about sex abuse prevention"
* Aug. 22, 2012: "I've never seen true evidence of God, and yet. . ."
* Aug. 8, 2012: "There's no business like the p.r. business"
* July 25, 2012: "What waiting for death has taught me"
* July 11, 2012: "Will the Catholic church still be here in a generation?"
* June 27, 2012: "Marriage 'justice' should involve separation of church and state"
* June 13, 2012: "We must remember Christianity is Jesus, not a doctrine"
* May 30, 2012: "LCRW move puzzling even to those outside Catholicism"
* May 16, 2012: "Archeology expedition creates hope of God's plan for all of us"
* May 2, 2012: "The story of one man, one clash in complicated Israel"
* April 18, 2012: "Christians should get to know Jesus in his native land"
* April 4, 2012: "'Evangelization' doesn't have to be a dirty word"
* March 21, 2012: "The Bible should have a place in life outside of Mass"
* March 7, 2012: "Staring the immensity of death in the face."
* Feb. 22, 2012: "Churches must remember context or else risk irrelevancy"
* Feb. 8, 2012: "The best way to describe our prison system? 'It's nuts.'"
* Jan. 25, 2012: "All of us, not just those Marines, are capable of evil"
* Jan. 11, 2012: "A church is more than a building, but the building matters, too"
* Dec. 28, 2011: "Bold predictions for the religious world in 2012"
* Dec. 14, 2011: "The story of one man's abuse"
* Nov. 30, 2011: "Honor others, even in times of interreligious unrest"
* Nov. 16, 2011: "Sexual misconduct in church won't disappear"
* Nov. 2, 2011: "A bottom-up approach to Bishop Finn's indictment"
* Oct. 19, 2011: "The church is no 'a place where' but 'a people who.'"
* Oct. 5, 2011: "Looking for understanding, miracles in Israel"
* Sept. 21, 2011: "The meaning of the Eucharist to us, every one"
* Sept. 7, 2011: "How will they remember in 100 years?"
* Aug. 24, 2011: "Monk's story gives new reason for death penalty opposition"
* Aug. 10, 2011: "Can Catholics teach Presbyterians how to live with tension?"
* July 27, 2011: "When it feels like home"
* July 13, 2011: "Sorting through kids technology use tough for grandparents"
* June 29, 2011: "Christians must play a pivotal role in conflict mediation"
* June 15, 2011: "Faith should guide us in all aspects of life, including politics"
* June 1, 2011: "Bishop asks people not to trust him?"
* May 18, 2011: "Forgiveness for sex abuse doesn't come cheap."
* May 5, 2011. "Giving thanks, asking forgiveness for bin Laden'sdeath.
* April 20, 2011. "Hospitals, Alice's Wonderland and the bishops on health care"
* April 6, 2011. "Want to get in touch with God? Laugh a little"
* March 23, 2011. "Thinking of food with 'astonished gratitude about abundance'"
* March 9, 2011. "Forget about sainthood, let's worry about ministry."
* Feb. 23, 2011. "Catholics, Orthodox must resolve gay marriage opposition."
* Feb. 9, 2011. "When religions stops using hate words, politics will, too."
* Jan. 26, 2011. "Studying both Protestant, Catholic thinkers leaders to better understanding."
* Jan. 11, 2011. "Baptism agreement shows all Christians part of same family."
* Dec. 29, 2010. "Hope: Demanding the divine words."
* Dec. 15, 2010. "Pope's condom remarks leave much unsaid."
* Dec. 1, 2010. "With shrinking congregations, churches must inspire."
* Nov. 17, 2010. "To understand redemption we must talk about death."
* Nov. 3, 2010. "On anniversary of Reformation, it's time to get ecumenical."
* Oct. 20, 2010. "Coming back to a sustainable pace of life."
* Oct. 6, 2010. "An ethical base for politics must come from all of us."
* Sept. 22, 2010. "To avoid clergy burnout, parishioners have to lend a hand"
* Sept. 8, 2010: "On 9/11, finding hope for Islam in America"
* Aug. 25, 2010: "Without monasticism, Protestants miss out on community"
* Aug. 11, 2010: "Without women priests, Catholics miss out on ministry"
* July 29, 2010: "Reaping what we sow: evangelizing Africa"
* July 14, 2010: "Holy hatred and the consequence of ideas"
* June 30, 2010: "It's easy to be misled on stem cell research"
* June 16, 2010: "Seeking religious harmony, the urgent call of our time"
* Profile of Phoenix Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, posted June 3, 2010.
* June 2, 2010: "Thinking about eating ethically"
* May 19, 2010: "I don't care what religion Supreme Court justices follow"
* May 5, 2010: "When a congregation chooses its pastor"
* April 21, 2010: "All faith communities must stop putting children at risk"
* April 7, 2010: "These newly impassioned bishops."
* March 24, 2010: The challenge Christian millennials offer has joy and risks.
* March 10, 2010: Balancing the right and left brains at worship.
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