Blog Archive » Religion

It's been two weeks already since Pope Benedict's visit, so some postgame analysis now seems in order. Starting with the red shoes. Did you see them? I got a close look during his meeting with the college presidents, see above. Fab. A far cry from the "shoes of the fisherman" circa 33 A.D. when Peter became the first Pope. Peter was probably more Teva than Prada.

Much was made of the papal couture on display during this visit. Benedict seemed to win over many fans from among the skeptics simply by stepping out in those red shoes, natty white coat and sumptuous vestments. In a Church where Full Article

As a fitting end to this past week's intense focus on religion and faith in modern life, I joined a wonderful group of friends for Seder on the first night of Passover on Saturday. This group of Jewish and Christian friends — in our secular lives we are lawyers and academics and nonprofit leaders and colleagues in many professions — has gathered for many years in the lovely home of our hosts, and together we pray and reflect and discuss and enjoy the ritual meal guided by the ancient words and instructions in the Haggadah. Few rituals remind me so profoundly of the deeply entwined roots of Judaism and Christianity; few prayer books so accurately reflect the timeless themes of faith and humanity as the ancient psalms and tales of flight in the first Passover remind us of the terrors we face even today, and our common yearning for charity and hope. The need for faith to illuminate our convictions, the imperative to work for justice and peace, are powerful themes that link all of us across many faith traditions and generations. Full Article

Pope Benedict surprised and delighted a lot of people today. After his Mass at Nationals Stadium, he met privately with several victims of clergy sex abuse, a move that surprised many but a gesture consistent with a theme of repentance and reconciliation he tackled head-on at the start of this visit.

To the delight of Catholic educators, his address to us at Catholic University struck exactly the right notes of encouragement and affirmative challenge. Calling the work of Catholic schools "an outstanding apostolate of hope" and praising the work of great women in the history of Catholic education like Katharine Drexel and Elizabeth Ann Seton, Pope Benedict immediately established rapport with his audience of Catholic school superintendents, diocesan religious educators and university presidents. As a former university professor himself, a fact he noted wryly, he approached his remarks with a collegial tone that resonated well with the collegiate leaders in the room. Full Article

Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Washington appears to be going very well; he enjoyed the warm greetings at the White House and enthusiastic adulations of thousands of Washingtonians and people from all over.

At the White House, Pope Benedict called on Americans to use their privileges to create a more just and humane world.

President Bush replied, according to the Washington Post, that "in a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved."

Today as well, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that death by lethal injection is a Constitutionally acceptable form of capital punishment. Chief Justice John Roberts, a Catholic appointed by President Bush, wrote the majority opinion, and he was joined by six other justices including the other four Catholics on the Court. Full Article

Imagine for a minute that the Trinity community could have a kaffeklatsch with Pope Benedict when he's in town this week. (That strange looking word means "coffee and donuts and a discussion"…)

What would we want to discuss with the Pope?

Here are a few topics I'd like to discuss with him — and let me know yours!

1. How can the Catholic Church stop being co-opted by American political opportunists? Full Article