Pope Francis recently baptized 32 babies in the Sistine Chapel. The event has become a Vatican tradition, but this time there were a couple differences. First, one of the babies was from a couple married in a civil ceremony. The second was the relaxed tone of the homily in which the pope encouraged the mothers to breastfeed their children if they became hungry. Read more...

If you ask a bishop if a priest has to be the person in charge of every parish, the only honest answer he can give you is no. Priests don't have to be in control of every detail of parish life. In many cases, the stress of parish administration is overwhelming and puts the health of priests at risk. Most priests will tell you that they got ordained to lead people in worship during the Sunday liturgy and to administer the other sacraments. That, in fact, is what distinguishes priests from the rest of us. Does it make sense to assume that they will be effective community leaders and organizational ministers just because they are qualified worship leaders? What are the alternatives to current Catholic leadership practices?   Read more...

It seems that people from all walks of life are excited about Pope Francis. About 90% of Catholics in America give him a thumbs-up rating and 75% of Americans in general approve of him. Even Esquire Magazine said he was the best-dressed man in 2013 because he simplified papal garb to send a clear message about his papal mission. Clothes don't make the man; rather, as Esquire suggests, clothes express who the man is. What is the source of the Francis craze? Rabbi Eric Yoffie offers the outsider's perspective here. Read more...