U.S. Catholic

When the United States partnered with Israel and launched air strikes against Iran in February 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strikes were necessary to obliterate Iran’s nuclear capabilities in order to preemptively thwart an imminent threat. The many explanations for these air strikes—labeled Operation Epic Fury—are complicated, confusing, and likely exaggerat...

Scholar Phyllis Zagano is widely known as the leading authority on the history and theology of women deacons. Her latest book, The Vatican and Women Deacons (Orbis Books), offers a thorough analysis of the Vatican’s engagement with the issue, including during the Synod on Synodality. Recently, Polish journalist Dawid Gospodarek interviewed Zagano about her scholarship […]

Readings (Year A): Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31Psalm 128:1–2, 3, 4–51 Thessalonians 5:1–6Matthew 25:14–30 Reflection: You don’t have to be perfect, but you should try to be wise When I first read today’s scripture passages, I just did not understand why they belonged together. The reading from the Proverbs describes a woman of worth. Then, Paul […]

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For your communion host to make it to your mouth during Mass, wheat freshly harvested from growers in states such as North Dakota, Kansas, or Washington must arrive by train to a flour mill in Illinois. It’s cleaned, ground, sifted, and blended into flour. Then it’s shipped from Archer-Daniels-Midland Company— one of the largest agribusinesses […]

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My great-aunt offered me my great-grandmother’s fine china. These dishes witnessed generations of family dinners, those of celebration and of lament. I adored my grammie, so I accepted without hesitation. Back at home, I found myself asking: What does one do with 87 pieces of antique, lead-glazed china that are unsafe to eat from? And […]

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