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Church Teaching on Trial

Gerald E. Murray

The recently published North American Final Document for the Continental Stage of the 2021–2024 Synod (NAFD) confirms suspicions that the discussions at the October 2023 Synod on Synodality will...

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Gerald E. Murray

The Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent strikes a note of joy amidst this penitential time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. The priest wears...

Sorrow and Hope on All Souls Day

Gerald E. Murray

“We believe in the life eternal. We believe that the souls of all those who die in the grace of Christ—whether they must still be purified in purgatory, or...

Why Francis Must Speak

Gerald E. Murray

The crux of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s indictment of Pope Francis comes toward the end of his Memorandum: “Francis is abdicating the mandate which Christ gave to Peter to...

What Makes a Great Parish?

Gerald E. Murray

Great Catholic Parishes: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive by william e. simon, jr. ave maria press, 202 pages, $17.95 What is a Catholic parish? The Code of...

The Witness of Bernard Nathanson

Gerald E. Murray

The following is adapted from Fr. Gerald Murray’s homily at the funeral of Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson. The prophet Isaiah proclaims this hope filled message in our first reading...

Into the Land of the Living

Gerald E. Murray

The second day of November is a busy one for parish priests. On that day, we celebrate three Masses for the dead. These liturgies follow directly on the previous...