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  [This article appeared in a slightly shorter form in First Things on May 3, 2010, ten years after the death of Cardinal John O’Connor. It is reprinted here, with the magazine’s permission,  to mark the 25th anniversary of the beloved Cardinal’s passing.] I first got to... Read More →

  Public opinion inside and outside the Church is split three ways about the kind of leader the Church needs at this defining moment of its history: another Francis (“a continuity candidate”), a pope in the mold of John Paul II or Benedict XVI, or a hybrid, someone between... Read More →

  A figure that looms large in the Christian story, Pontius Pilate is cited by name in both the Apostles Creed—which has roots in the second century—and the more explicit and detailed Nicene Creed, adopted in 325 AD. The verifiable facts of Pilate’s life, however, are few.... Read More →

  There are two ways in which to think about humanity: as unique human persons or as aggregate masses. When we humans start to speak of groups of people, it almost always leads to dismissing each group member’s humanity, even if only slightly. “Fans of that football team... Read More →

  Researchers at the University of Waikato in New Zealand are studying how light from the outside world travels into the womb. A pregnant woman’s skin allows light to pass through and provide some illumination, and strong light applied directly to her skin can illuminate the... Read More →

  Pro-abortion news outlet ProPublica claims Texas’ strong protections for preborn babies are tied to a reported increase in sepsis, but a statistical expert says there is more to the story. “Texas banned abortions. Then sepsis rates soared,” a February article state... Read More →

  The major countries of Europe (and even Japan and Canada) have been experiencing much political instability, including election results that have lacked clarity. France had four prime ministers in 2024, one of whom lasted only 91 days, and snap elections last summer... Read More →

  The following originally appeared in the Washington Examiner, from which it has been reprinted with permission. Progressive outlet Mother Jones examined the supposed “splintering” of the pro-life movement in a recent article, prompted in part by an online spat between... Read More →

  I have been reading Linda Royall’s 2023 book Sacrifice, in which the investigative journalist details Margaret Sanger’s deep and revolting entanglements with eugenics, racism, Nazi ideology, and population control. Royall also explains how Sanger biographer (and devoted... Read More →

  Babies would be recognized as full human beings worthy of protection under a pending congressional bill from Missouri Republican Eric Burlison. Rep. Burlison recently introduced the “Life at Conception Act” along with 68 cosponsors and the backing of pro-life groups. The... Read More →