Christopher White

There’s an old saying I’ve heard on several occasions from friends in Europe that goes something like this: “Why is there so much faith to be found in Rome? Because everyone that goes to work there loses it.” Such a remark sums up a great fear that was doubtlessly on the . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s  New York Times,  authors Patrick McCloskey and Joseph Harris took  to the editorial page  to announce that “Catholic parochial education is in a crisis.” In many regards, this is quite true. Any observer of the state of the Catholic education . . . . Continue Reading »

Today’s  New York Times  features a  profile piece on Msgr. Gerald Ryan , the oldest working priest in the archdiocese of New York. The article portrays Msgr. Ryan as fully satisfied in his vocation, yet overworked and saddened by certain aspects of the state of the Catholic . . . . Continue Reading »

The Archdiocese of New York (where I consider it a privilege to be counted a member) has recently received some criticism for its low number of priestly ordinations this year. This past Saturday, Cardinal Dolan ordained two new priests at St. Patrick’s Cathedral—one . . . . Continue Reading »

Last year’s November publication of Light of the World, the book length interview with Pope Benedict XVI by Peter Seewald, set off a media frenzy over claims that the Catholic Church had changed its position on condoms. Critics of Church teaching quickly used the occasion to remark that the archaic institution just might be catching up to the rest of the world, while some ill-informed Catholics began to fear that the elderly Pope might be suffering an onset of dementia and was single-handedly reversing Church teaching on sexual ethics. The truth, however, is that the Roman pontiff was doing neither of those things. One year later, on the occasion of World AIDS Day, I believe it’s helpful to revisit just what the Pope had to say about condom usage and the HIV/AIDS crisis and how we can best respond… . Continue Reading »