Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report Reveals Widespread Abuse In Catholic Church

A Pennsylvania Grand Jury report reveals decades of abuse by some 300 Catholic Priests impacting more than 1,000 children and 26 of the state’s Roman Catholic Diocese.

[Death penalty - image of a stretcher with shackles] [Death penalty - image of a stretcher with shackles]

Pope Francis Declares Capital Punishment Unacceptable In All Circumstances

In what amounts to a significant, albeit not surprising, change in Catholic doctrine, Pope Francis has declared that the death penalty is unacceptable in all circumstances.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick Resigns As Sexual Abuse Allegations Mount

One of the most prominent members of the American Catholic hierarchy has been removed from office in the face of mounting allegations of sexual abuse that stretch back decades.

Effort To Liberalize Abortion Laws Shifts To Northern Ireland

The overwhelming success of the abortion referendum in Ireland is leading to calls for similar action in Northern Ireland, but it won’t be easy.

Irish Voters Overwhelmingly Vote To Repeal Ban On Abortion

Just as they did three years ago when they legalized same-sex marriage, Irish voters turned out in record numbers to repeal the nation’s ban on abortion.

Ireland Set To Vote On Lifting Abortion Ban

Tomorrow, Irish voters will head to the polls to decide whether or not to scrap a Constitutional Amendment that bans abortion in essentially all circumstances.

Percentage Of Americans Professing “No Religion” On The Rise

The number of Americans professing no religious affiliation is on the rise. This will have some interesting cultural and political implications.

After Controversial Removal, Ryan Reinstates House Chaplain

After hastily removing the House Chaplain under unclear circumstances, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has reversed himself.

Pope Francis Says There is No Hell

The Vatican has stopped short of calling the reports “Fake news.”

Trump Lawyers Consider Legal Action To Stop CBS From Airing Stormy Daniels Interview

Anderson Cooper has interviewed adult film star Stormy Daniels for 60 Minutes, but lawyers for President Trump are apparently considering legal action to stop the report from airing.

President Trump Attempts Self-Deprecating Humor at Gridiron Club

After skipping such events in his first thirteen months in office, the President tried his hand at stand-up last night to mixed reviews.

Why Aren’t Nonprofits More Regulated?

A series of scandals at Oxfam and other charitable organizations raise troubling questions.

Polish President Signs Controversial Holocaust Bill Into Law

Poland’s President has signed a controversial bill that purports to criminalize any effort to tie Poland to the Holocaust.

Ireland To Vote On Referendum Liberalizing Abortion Laws

In May, Irish voters will vote on a referendum to remove the near-universal ban on abortion in the nation’s Constitution. And it looks as though it will pass.

Polish Government Sending History Of Polish Collaboration With Nazis Down The Memory Hole

The Polish Government appears ready to approve a law that seeks to whitewash the truth about the role that many Poles played in the Holocaust.

Losing Our Religion

Americans as a whole are becoming less religious and some people are panicking about it.

What Would It Take For Republicans To Abandon Trump?

Donald Trump’s core supporters in the Republican Party remain intensely loyal, and that seems unlikely to change.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Bar On Secular Aid To Church-Run Schools

The Supreme Court ruled today that states may not exclude church-run schools from an aid program with a wholly secular purpose.

Two Years After Obergefell, Public Support For Same-Sex Marriage Hits Another High

Two years after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, nearly two-thirds of Americans support the idea of legal marriage rights for gay and lesbian Americans.

What’s Taking So Long For Trump To Name U.S. Ambassadors?

Donald Trump has been President for nearly four months, but has yet to name Ambassadorial picks for many slots including several important posts.

A Night Of Comity Turns Bitter

What was supposed to be a night away from the campaign trail quickly turned partisan.

Podesta, Wikileaks, and Catholics

Wherein an initial attempt to understand something seen on Facebook leads to ruminations on religious liberty.

French ‘Burkini’ Ban Provokes Backlash

For largely irrational reasons, French police are arresting women on the beach for wearing swimsuits that are compatible with their faith.

The Steady Decline of News

The business of the media is business. Business is not good.

Yes, We Would Benefit From A More Diverse Supreme Court

Justice Sotomayor argued last week that we ought to look somewhere other than just the Courts of Appeal, the Ivy League, and the Northeast for Supreme Court Justices. She’s right.

Trump, Clinton Hold Solid Leads In New York

With just over a week to go, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have solid leads in New York.

Donald Trump: Women Who Get Abortions Should Be ‘Punished’

Donald Trump takes opposition to abortion to a new, extreme, level.

New Poll Appears To Show Majority GOP Support For Trump’s ‘Ban Muslims’ Immigration Plan

A new poll appears to show that a majority of Republicans support Donald Trump’s plan to bar Muslims from immigrating to the United States.

California’s Governor Signs Right To Die Bill

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide, making California the fifth state to legalize the practice and possibly giving real political momentum to the Right To Die movement.

Of Course the Pope is Political

When did “politics” become a dirty word?

California Legislature Passes Bill Legalizing Physician Assisted Suicide

California’s legislature has approved a bill that would legalize physician assisted suicide in the nation’s largest state.

Donald Trump Courting Sarah Palin’s Supporters

Donald Trump’s campaign seems to be making a play for whatever portion of the GOP it may be that still likes Sarah Palin.

Boy Scouts End Ban On Gay Scout Leaders

A long standing policy against gay Scout Leaders has been repealed.

Pope Francis Writes On The Environment, And Many People Miss The Point

Pope Francis’s new encyclical isn’t exactly being received positively by American conservatives, because they seem to be missing the point.

Marriage Equality Is Coming To Mexico

Thanks largely to a series of court decisions, same-sex marriage is effectively legal in all of Mexico.

New Michigan Law Allows Religious Adoption Agencies To Discriminate Against Gay Couples

A new Michigan law allows religious-affiliated adoption agencies to turn away parents for religious reasons, and it seems fairly obvious what the target is in this case.

Minnesota Archbishop Resigns In Wake Of Criminal Charges Over Sex Abuse

The head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has resigned in the wake of criminal charges for covering up sexual abuse of children.

Americans Becoming Vastly More Accepting of Homosexuality

Americans are growing more tolerant of gays and gay marriage, with irrelevant exceptions.

Minnesota Archdiocese Faces Criminal Charges For Covering Up Child Sex Abuse

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been charged criminally for its role in covering up sexual abuse of children by Priests.

Marco Rubio Thinks That Gay Marriage Is A Threat To ‘Religious Liberty’

Marco Rubio seems to be in lockstep with the extreme social conservatives when it comes to same-sex marriage.

Irish Voters Overwhelmingly Vote In Favor Of Same-Sex Marriage

Voters in Ireland have overwhelmingly approved a referendum legalizing same-sex marriage.

President Of Boy Scouts Of America Calls For End Of Ban On Gay Scout Leaders

Robert Gates, the former Defense Secretary who now serves as head of the Boy Scouts Of America, has called for an end to that organizations ban on gay Scout Leaders.

Vatican To Recognize Palestinian State

The Vatican has announced that it will recognize Palestinian statehood, but this is not going to resolve the underlying issues that prevent a Palestinian state from actually coming into existence.

Americans Becoming Less Christian And Less Religious, Survey Says

A new survey shows that Americans are becoming less Christian, and less religious overall.