Let us seek mercy and be merciful during 'Jubilee Year of Mercy'
In just a matter of weeks, the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, as proclaimed by Pope Francis, will begin on Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In his “Bull of Indiction,” Misericordiae Vultus, dated April 11 of this year, Pope Francis explains in detail both his r...Read full story »
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Society is founded in marriage and the family
I recently attended the annual meeting of the Canon Law Society of America, which was held this year in Pittsburgh, Pa. I realize that neither Canon Law nor Pittsburgh may sound very exciting to many, but it was quite informative. I recall one particular presentation regarding marriage and fa...Read full story »
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Papal Visit 2015: Experience & Reflections of a Bishop
To state the obvious, papal visits to the U.S. don't happen every day. With that in mind, I certainly could not miss the opportunity as a bishop to be a part of such a historic event. As a bishop, I had been given the opportunity to participate in various events with Pope Francis in Washi...Read full story »
Friday, October 02, 2015
We must see through Jesus' eyes
In the Encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), published on 29 June 2013, Pope Francis explained the nature of Christian faith as follows: “In faith, Christ is not simply the one in whom we believe, the supreme man...Read full story »
Thursday, August 27, 2015
The interrelatedness of life and creation
Pope Francis has lamented the fact that a drastic drop in the stock market grabs the headlines and prompts more attention than the capsizing of an overcrowded boat of refugees or some other devastation to human life. Recently, social media has been lit up by the public outcry over the illegal...Read full story »
Thursday, August 13, 2015
We must embrace a consistent ethic of life
Most of us are familiar with a well-known quip from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet; “What’s in a name?” At the risk of labeling ourselves or others, we tend to use various words to describe personal characteristics, qualities or positions. However...Read full story »
Monday, July 13, 2015
An Encyclical for the 21st Century
Pope Francis’ newly released Encyclical Letter on the Environment, Laudato Si’ (“Praise be to you”), is very much in line with Catholic Social Teaching and pronouncements of previous popes. In his own unique style, with his encyclical letter emphasizing “care for...Read full story »
Monday, June 29, 2015
We are called to proclaim the Gospel truth beyond popular opinion
For the fourth consecutive year, the Bishops of the United States are calling on all the faithful to keep the Fortnight for Freedom, June 21-July 4. This year’s theme, “Freedom to Bear Witness,” draws on the...Read full story »
Monday, June 22, 2015
Message to 2015 high school graduates
Following is Bishop Charles C. Thompson’s message to 2015 graduates of Mater Dei, Reitz Memorial, Rivet and Washington Catholic High Schools. The diocesan theme for this 2014-15 academic year has focused on each Cathol...Read full story »
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
We must cultivate a culture of dialogue
Life is filled with noise, constant chatter, a barrage of sounds. Apart from the sounds of nature and some music, however, there is little evidence of harmony. This seems especially true among human beings. ...Read full story »
Monday, May 04, 2015
