Inside the Capitol

Catholics must play an important part in the renewal of public life. And they should do so as Catholics, not just as citizens who happen to be Catholic.

Read more

The decline of small, family farms and rural communities isn’t just a problem for small-town residents or American Gothic enthusiasts. It carries with it consequences for all Minnesotans that we should address.

Read more

The Catholic faith has long drawn attention to the serious and sinister consequences of pornography on the human soul. In 2016, for instance, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released “Create in Me a Clean Heart,” a pastoral letter describing pornography’s ability to distort one’s understanding of human sexuality and stunt his or her capacity for self-giving love. The bishops condemned pornography as part of the “throwaway culture” Pope Francis has described and warned that its harms “include physiological, financial, emotional, mental and spiritual effects.”

Read more

Exactly one 100 years ago, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children outside of Fatima, Portugal, sharing with them some extraordinary messages and prophecies. But Our Lady of Fatima’s most urgent plea was for repentance — on behalf of ourselves, sinners and entire nations — as well as for people to pray the rosary. In the end, she promised, her Immaculate Heart would triumph.

Read more

The first tumultuous weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency have seen marches, rallies and demonstrations across the country, held in opposition to, or in support of, at least some part of the president’s agenda. Millions have taken part, and the trend shows no sign of stopping. To put it mildly, activism is in the air.

Read more

This year, the bishops of Minnesota are hosting an exciting event in St. Paul March 9 called Catholics at the Capitol. With critical issues such as the legalization of assisted suicide and persistent family poverty at stake, Catholics concerned with life and human dignity cannot afford to miss it.

Read more

The 90th session of the Minnesota Legislature began Jan. 3. Dozens of first-term lawmakers are included among its 201 members.

Most come excited with some key priorities based on the issues they believe got them elected. But apart from those two or three main issues, much of the legislative terrain and the substance of many issues will be unfamiliar to new lawmakers, as it continues to be for some veterans.

Read more

The debate over immigration policy is inevitably heating up as we prepare for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president. Undoubtedly, an early priority of his presidency will be to increase border security and re-examine President Obama’s immigration enforcement policies.

Read more