Keeping a republic: a 250th birthday meditation July 2, 2026By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Commentary, The Catholic Difference As we mark the national semiquincentennial on July 4, we might well reflect on Benjamin Franklin’s answer to Elizabeth Willing Powel, when the elderly sage left the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the Philadelphia matron demanded, “Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a republic, or a monarchy?”
‘Alone’: Lessons from the wilderness July 1, 2026By Sister Hosea Rupprecht OSV News Filed Under: Commentary “Alone” sends 10 trained survivalists into the wilderness to live off the land. Armed with strict limits on their gear, the individual who lasts the longest wins a $500,000 prize. Unlike other reality shows, the participants do their own camera work.
A Fourth of July Memory June 30, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I was making coffee early on the Fourth of July when I heard the ping of a text message.
Question Corner: Would a vow renewal impact a future annulment? June 29, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner Hypothetically, would a vow renewal like this have any impact if a couple were to try for an annulment later?
Relishing a 7th Birthday with Mustard June 24, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Did she like mustard? We didn’t know. Did she want a stuffed mustard? Maybe not. But we had a feeling this was the right gift.
Question Corner: Should a priest do a Mass intention ‘for the people of the parish’ when there are more specific intentions waiting? June 24, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner The short answer is that your priest isn’t offering Mass for the people of the parish because he personally wanted to or because he thought it was a good idea (although he probably is happy to do this and praying for the people of the parish is indeed a good idea)! Rather, he was offering this specific Mass intention because the Church’s canon law specifically requires him to do so.
Not to Burst Your Balloon June 22, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window Getting someone’s attention at the balloon counter was tricky, but when I finally found an employee, I asked her to fill up six red balloons.
250 in Charity and Truth June 22, 2026By Archbishop William E. Lori Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Charity in Truth, Commentary On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will celebrate its 250th anniversary. This event will resonate in every corner of the land, but it has special significance for us in the Premier See, the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We are linked to this event both by history and by the virtue of patriotism.
Saving your news June 18, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Amen Gunty Commentary, Commentary, Journalism The Kiplinger Program based at Ohio University in Athens each year hosts a fellowship with a different theme. This year, that was “Saving Local News,” with an emphasis on concrete solutions for community news outlets. Catholic Review editor Christopher Gunty was selected as a fellow for this year’s program.
The SSPX leadership against Scripture and Tradition June 18, 2026By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: Commentary, The Catholic Difference The Holy See has declared that, if the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) proceeds with the ordination of bishops in July without a papal mandate, those involved in these illicit ordinations are automatically (latae sententiae) excommunicated – that is, excommunicated by their own acts.
A Dominican, a lawyer and a priest walk into a classroom … June 18, 2026By Jenny Kraska Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Guest Commentary Fifty years ago, a young Dominican friar from Baltimore stepped forward to place his life into the hands of the Church. In doing so, Father D. Reginald Whitt did what every priest does at ordination: he offered not simply his talents or ambitions, but his very self. Half a century later, countless former students, colleagues, parishioners and friends can testify that the gift he offered has multiplied beyond measure.
In praise of fathers June 17, 2026By Greg Erlandson OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marriage & Family Life There is a lot of handwringing going on about the state of manhood these days. Maybe this Father’s Day, we can focus on what’s good about men who are fathers.
