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Society and Culture

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
Tim Busch, founder of the Napa Institute

The Napa Institute and the Next America

Through liturgy, academic formation, and fraternity, the Napa Institute seeks to prepare Catholics for life and the adventure of evangelization in our current apostolic age.

Timothy R. Busch
Msgr. James P. Shea
Jul 15, 2021
A confessional

Sealing Confession: A Theological Justification for Keeping a Lid on It

Recent political challenges to the seal of confession have called into question the role of the sacrament of Reconciliation in the life of the Catholic faith.

Dr. Michael J. Morris
Dr. Jared Schumacher
Apr 22, 2021
Versailles, France

Engaging the Enlightenment: A Symposium

What is the Enlightenment, and how does it relate to Christianity? Drs. Blum and Stuart explore the Enlightenment and its implications for Christian thought and culture.

Dr. Christopher Blum
Dr. Joseph T. Stuart
Apr 15, 2021