In an apostolic letter on Sunday observance (July 30, 1998), Dies Domini, Pope John Paul II encourages Christians “to rediscover the meaning of Sunday: its mystery, its celebration, its significance for Christian and human life.” Fundamentally a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Sunday observance invites believers to relive “the experience of the two disciples at Emmaus,… continue reading
Sunday Liturgy Call to Self-Giving: Dies Domini, John Paul II and Virgil Michel, O.S.B.
December 1, 1998 by
How can Husband and Wife work Together – How Dare you talk about Complementarity?
April 1, 1998 by
Our last issue was controversial in presenting complementarity as the choice of Dorothy Day, Sr. Prudence Allen, St. Hildegard of Bingen and Louise Yarian Zwick. It has raised further questions about the marriage relationship of the Editors of the Houston Catholic Worker. Who is in charge? Who writes the articles? The authors have known each other for… continue reading
Is Marriage Un-American? Secret of Good Sexuality
January 1, 1998 by
When the American Institute of Health insisted that the words “husband and wife” could no longer be used in their offices, little did they realize how prophetic was their action in commenting on the state of affairs of love and marriage in the United States. By suppressing the use of the words “husband and wife,”… continue reading
How to be a Christian in a Non-Christian World: Is there a Lay Theology?
June 1, 1997 by
It happened again, and as usual we had become upset and angry. An immigrant just asked us for the upteenth time, “Marcos, usted es un sacerdote y Luisa una monja?” (Mark, are you a priest and Louise a nun?) “No! No!” We say for the upteenth time. “Somos laicos.” We are lay people. And if they insist, we say… continue reading
Why Argue About Fr. Michael J. Baxter and Notre Dame?
April 1, 1997 by
The last issue of the Houston Catholic Worker featured several articles in defense of the appointment of Fr. Michael Baxter, C.S.C., a Catholic Worker theologian, to the theology department at the University of Notre Dame and in defense of Notre Dame President, Holy Cross Fr. Edward Malloy, who was denounced by the Faculty Senate for this action. We apologize, especially… continue reading
Is Dorothy Day’s Laetare Medal in Jeopardy?
February 1, 1997 by
If the faculty senate of the University of Notre Dame voted today, it would vote against Dorothy Day and her theology. It is hoped that they won’t posthumously invalidate her medal. Catholic Workers are highly incensed that liberal theologians have the gall to call into question one of America’s greatest women and attempt to marginalize her thought because it… continue reading
No Federal Funds – What Now?
December 1, 1996 by
Yesterday a staff member from the United States Catholic Conference was almost in tears as she lamented the tremendous loss of welfare funds to Catholic agencies and to the poor because of the new anti-immigration bill which eliminates assistance to legal immigrants not yet citizens. “What are we going to do?” she cried. “Where are… continue reading
Heart of the World, Center of the Church: Can CEO’s and Stockholders be Saved?
October 1, 1996 by
Who then devised the torment? Love. Love is the unfamiliar Name Behind the hands that wove The intolerable shirt of flame Which human power cannot remove. We only live, only suspire Consumed either by fire or fire. (T. S. Eliot) How different our world looks today from the Civilization of Love called for by recent… continue reading
Massive Cover-Up
April 1, 1996 by
If thousands of years from now (about 5,000 A.D.), researchers studied Catholic and Christian publications of today to find out what they really believed, they would be in for a surprise. In this dream (or nightmare), our researchers did exactly that. Having read a little about Jesus of Nazareth, who ate with the poor and outcasts, who gave up… continue reading
Anti-Judaism in Religious Feminist Writing: Scapegoating on Patriarchy Distorts Theology
June 1, 1995 by
Who among us has not heard from feminist writers that Jesus was unique for his time in his concern for women, in contrast to all other Jews? Who among us has not heard from feminist writers that the Hebrews, the Hebrew Bible, the Jews are responsible for patriarchy, where women are treated badly, a practice… continue reading
