by Frank Litton A force for good? Reflections on neutrality and the future of Irish defence. Dublin: Afri 2022, ISBN 0-9511178-3-5 (Afri can be reached at 8 New Cabra Road, Dublin7, DO7 T1W2; email: admin@afri.ie) War once more in Europe, once more slaughter, devastation, lives destroyed. Once more efforts to make sense of it all,…
Month: November 2022
Catholic business leaders in Philippines pledge to cap prices at Christmas
A group of Catholic business leaders in the Philippines has forged an agreement to implement a cap on the prices of goods and commodities during the Christmas holiday season. The group of more than 3,000 entrepreneurs said the decision was made in order not to take advantage of the high demand during the Christmas season,…
Family News
‘Exceptional’ ancient bronze statues emerge in Italy Archaeologists in Italy have found more than two dozen beautifully preserved bronze statues dating back to ancient Roman times in thermal baths in Tuscany, in what experts are hailing as an “exceptional” discovery. The statues were found over the last two weeks in San Casciano dei Bagni, a…
After a serious scare, three thoughts on Catholic health care
Readers may have noticed that I’ve been absent from the Crux site for more than three weeks. The reason, which I didn’t announce in advance, is that I recently had to have a fairly major surgery on my oesophagus, and then I spent more than three weeks in the hospital here in Rome recovering. Although I’m home…
Catholic leaders vow to continue fight after state abortion measures pass
by Carol Zimmermann Although Catholic leaders and state Catholic conferences had pushed for the defeat of ballot measures protecting legal abortion and urged voters to pass measures restricting abortions, state voters ultimately went the other way November 8. Voters in California, Vermont and Michigan approved abortion protections, while Kentucky and Montana voters rejected abortion restrictions.…
PLC ‘face future with hope’ at national conference
The Pro Life Campaign held their first in-person national conference since 2019, with a large crowd focused on the theme of ‘Saving Lives and Facing the Future with Hope’. Guest speakers encouraged the Irish pro-life community to keep fighting for the cause, pointing to signs of hope in the overturning of Roe vs Wade. The…
Joy and consolation in November prayers
A Parent’s Perspective November can be a dark, bleak month, situated between the mellowness of October and the excitement of the lead up to Christmas. With all its dreary days and inclement weather, it is a month I quite enjoy as the wind and rain provide the perfect excuse for snuggling up on the couch…
Inspiring examples of courage and humanity
Disciples of Courage: Ten Christian Lives that Inspire by Brendan Comerford SJ (Messenger Publications, €19.95/£18.95) November has long been a month devoted to recalling the dead and to celebrating their achievements. With the constant pursuit of novelty and celebrity these days, such as Halloween and the commercialisation of the Dia de los Muertos (the Mexican…
Court says Indian cardinal must appear to face charges on land deals
A top court in the southern Indian state of Kerala has dismissed an appeal by Cardinal George Alencherry, who sought an exemption from appearing in a district court in cases related to his alleged involvement in the sale of Church lands. The November 9 decision of the Kerala High Court effectively means the head of…
In exile – marking an anniversary
Forty years ago in November of 1982, I began writing this column while a doctoral student in Belgium. I chose to call it ‘In Exile’ for two reasons. Superficially, I chose this title because I was living in Europe, far from much of what I considered as home. While I was not pretending to be…





John L. Allen Jr.

Ruadhán Jones
Maria Byrne
Peter Costello

Fr Ronald Rolheiser