So far in part 1  and part 2, we looked at how natural law is usually defined and how some of these definitions cause confusion. I also offered a definition that has always worked well for me. It helps to repeat it: Natural law is the law that says that all things work best or ...read more

Pope Paul VI greets the crowd as he visits the Verano cemetery in Rome in 1973. Pope Francis will beatify Pope Paul Oct. 19 during the closing Mass of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family. (CNS photo/Giancarlo Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo) To learn more about the Church’s role in the modern world, watch ...read more

Today on Inside the Synod discussions got heated as the bishops reflected on difficult pastoral situations. Sebastian Gomes brings us the highlights. ...read more

Pope Paul VI is carried on the “sedia gestatoria,” a ceremonial throne, during a meeting of the Second Vatican Council in 1964. Pope Francis will beatify Pope Paul Oct. 19 during the closing Mass of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family. The miracle needed for Pope Paul’s beatification involved the birth of a ...read more

Tonight on Inside the Synod, the Pope calls Christians to greater unity at his weekly General Audience, and the Bishops reflect on the very practical challenges facing families today. ...read more

On Sunday, October 12, 2014, Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonization of two Canadian saints, St. Francis de Laval and St. Mary of the Incarnation. The Office of Liturgical Celebration released a statement announcing that other bishops and priests will concelebrate the Mass with the Holy Father, as indicated by ...read more

Pope Paul VI  makes a special appeal for world peace in 1965 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. “No more war, war never again,” he declared to the General Assembly. (CNS photo/Yutaka Nagata, U.N.) If you’re interested to find out more about the Holy See’s role at the United Nations check out watch ...read more

Tonight on Inside the Synod, Sebastian Gomes shares with us the highlights from Day 1, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Paul VI Audience Hall. ...read more

Pope Paul VI, right, greets Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople during the pontiff’s 1964 trip to the Holy Land. Pope Paul inaugurated many of the bilateral and multilateral ecumenical dialogues that continue today. (CNS file photo) Want to learn more about the Church’s work to promote Christian Unity? Check out episode 8 of The ...read more

Last week I explained that I was surprised to see how much confusion there is surrounding the topic of natural law. If the Church needs to use the natural law argument in order to explain morality and especially sexual morality, we need to find a better way to explain it. Here’s my contribution: If you type ...read more