Skip to main content

Society and Culture

A statue of Christ crucified

The Hidden Origins of Victim Culture

The modern world's fixation on victimhood status is unique across cultures and history. From where did it arise?

Dr. Jordan Almanzar
Sep 8, 2022
Statue of Benedict at Monte Cassino

Why Require Benedict?

To study the life and legacy of St. Benedict is not only to encounter one of the most vibrant spiritual and theological traditions of the Church, but also to explore an enduring case study in the vital relationship between religion and culture.

Msgr. James P. Shea
Aug 22, 2022
A wooden crucifix in the desert

Radical Autonomy and the Principle of Formation

The principle of radical autonomy has gripped the imaginations of Westerners, but skews our vision of the Church and the Gospel.

Prime Matters
Jun 15, 2022
Becket Fund Canterbury Medal

Who Are We? Where Are We Going?

In remarks offered upon receiving the 2022 Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Msgr. James Shea explores a poignant question asked of all Christians: Who are you? Where are you going?

Msgr. James P. Shea
May 26, 2022
United States Supreme Court

Fear, the Companion of Bigotry

Insistence on arguing for one’s cause in a limited set of ways indicates a refusal to expand one’s knowledge and accept new considerations.

Prime Matters
May 26, 2022
A fork in a winter forest road

The Daily Existential Crossroads

Christians stand daily at the existential crossroads, recognizing that the choice between life and good, death and evil lies not just in the world around us but within our own hearts.

Mar 3, 2022
Kyiv at Night

War and Penitence

St. James responds to the invasion of Ukraine; an Ash Wednesday dedicated to peace; a model of Christian joy in Nagasaki; the feast of a chair.

Feb 24, 2022
A banjo player in a field at sunset

Why We Play

Folk music helps us to reflect on the past, build community, and refresh our spirits, ultimately speeding us along in our attempts to build a Christian culture.

Conor Kennelly
Nov 25, 2021
The Capitol Rotunda

Engaging Secular Modernity

Ryan T. Anderson and Msgr. James Shea discuss the interplay of religion, culture, and public policy, the modern antipathy towards questions of family, and preparing the next generation of informed Christians in the public square.

Dr. Ryan T. Anderson
Msgr. James P. Shea
Nov 18, 2021
The cupola of St. Peter's Basilica rises over statues of saints on the colonnade

Why Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Are Not Absolute Values

While many pundits and activists in the West see equity, diversity, and inclusion as self-evident moral truths of absolute value, closer inspection reveals that they cannot fill that role.

Most Rev. Robert Barron
Nov 11, 2021