Promises on immigration reform?

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On Saturday, April 10, I was in the Teamsters Hall on Ashland Avenue in Chicago's near West Side, along with more than 1,000 others - mostly Hispanics, but Chinese and Polish. We were there to ask Senator Dick Durbin, Assistant Majority leader of the U.S. Senate, to push comprehensive immigration reform through this year. He promised to do so and pointed to the behind-the-scenes negotiation of Senators Charles Schumer (D, NY) and Lindsey Graham (R, SC) to structure the architecture of a bill and introduce later this month.

Getting something done in Washington and the church

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As Bryan points out in a blog  post that has gotten a ton of comments already, my post about seeking cooperation and support between pro-life and pro-human dignity camps only has gotten a couple of comments. This seems to say to me that this is really just about politics and not the issues.

The USCCB, Deal Hudson, and the Monday morning conference call

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One year after hope came to Washington

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Today marks the one year anniversary of the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Last year it seemed that most of the country was filled with hope (though certainly some were filled with dread).

Today, little of that hope seems to be left.

But rather than blaming Republicans for sucking out all of the liberals' hope or blaming Democrats for squandering their supposed "control" of Washington, one group is proposing a different solution. Their goal: Change Congress.

Manger Danger: Let's keep Uncle Sam out of church affairs

By David A. Lysik| Print this pagePrint | Email this pageShare
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Let's keep Uncle Sam out of the nativity scene by reinforcing the wall between church and state.

Our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife and rebuild what has broken; to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. This is not only our call as people of faith, but our duty as citizens of America, and it will be the purpose of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships."

David A. Lysik is an attorney and visiting professor of religious studies at DePaul University in Chicago. See more posts by David A. Lysik

Dream on

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The election of an African American president has stirred excitement, but a leading black theologian says visions of a “postracial” America are premature and misguided.

At the root of her theology, says M. Shawn Copeland, is the pursuit of the question: What is the best, the most worthwhile way to live? While Christians understand that the reign of God is not an achievable result of human endeavors, we are called to make the world around us “our best hope this side of the reign of God.”

Reel politics

By Patrick McCormick| Print this pagePrint | Email this pageShare
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Hollywood tells us that cleaning up Washington depends on the integrity of those we send there. But that’s only part of the story.

Soon the 2008 presidential campaign will be over, and the airways will be free of electoral promises and polls, for a few months at least. During this brief hiatus political junkies who can’t get their daily dose of campaign stories and scandals from the “real TV” we call network and cable news will have to rent movies about the drama and comedy of electoral politics.

Patrick McCormick is professor of Christian ethics at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. See more posts by Patrick McCormick

What's "real Catholic" mean?

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A new website is attempting to draw the 18-35 crowd into a strict Catholic Church. RealCatholicTV.com claims to have what young adults want: cool online video content and rigid, traditional teachings.

Nuns in action

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A few of stories of political nuns:

First, perhaps the oldest voter in this election is a 106-year-old nun living in Rome, aired on CBS News. This is the second of time she has voted in her long life, and the last time she vote for Eisenhower. This time, she's voting for Obama, but she was shy to show her button on TV and "campaign" for him.