Thomas Reese

The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest, is a Senior Analyst at RNS. Previously he was a columnist at the National Catholic Reporter (2015-17) and an associate editor (1978-85) and editor in chief (1998-2005) at America magazine. He was also a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University (1985-98 & 2006-15) where he wrote Archbishop, A Flock of Shepherds, and Inside the Vatican. Earlier he worked as a lobbyist for tax reform. He has a doctorate in political science from the University of California Berkeley. He entered the Jesuits in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1974 after receiving a M.Div from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.

All Stories by Thomas Reese

Don’t repeal the gas tax

By Thomas Reese — March 15, 2022
(RNS) — Eliminating the gasoline tax is really a gift to the oil industry.

Catholic bishops got exactly what they wanted in congressional budget agreement

By Thomas Reese — March 11, 2022
(RNS) — The bishops once again showed their ability to stay independent of partisan agendas.

Catholic theologians question the morality of Ukraine’s violent resistance

By Thomas Reese — March 7, 2022
(RNS) — Catholic moral theologians uniformly condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine but debate the proper response.

Tips to get news junkies through a distracting Lent

By Thomas Reese — March 1, 2022
(RNS) — Some demons, Jesus said, can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.

I forgive Pope Benedict. I hope others can too.

By Thomas Reese — February 22, 2022
(RNS) — I see Benedict as a holy but flawed individual who did the best he was capable of.

The good, the bad and the factual: Seeing American history through a biblical lens

By Thomas Reese — February 16, 2022
(RNS) — Bible history wasn’t written to make the Jewish people feel good about themselves.

Four things to look for in Francis’ reform of curia

By Thomas Reese — February 9, 2022
(RNS) — As every CEO and government official knows, reforming bureaucracies is not easy.

The lesson for Catholic bishops from Benedict report: Apologize, apologize, apologize

By Thomas Reese — January 31, 2022
(RNS) — Bishops might spend Lent doing penance, living on bread and water, camped out on the steps of their cathedrals.

Catholic bishops oppose some Biden programs, support others

By Thomas Reese — January 26, 2022
(RNS) — The bishops support administration programs for immigrants, the poor and the environment, while fighting to end abortions and to protect their institutions from what they see as illegitimate interference.

Catholic bishops fight Biden but affirm his election

By Thomas Reese — January 20, 2022
(RNS) — Catholic bishops show that people can disagree with the president without buying into the big lie. 

Mark, a Gospel for Ordinary Time

By Thomas Reese — January 11, 2022
(RNS) — Of the four Gospel writers, Mark is the one you would not want to invite to dinner. But he is the one who will challenge you to listen more carefully and to think more deeply about Jesus.

Earth: One of God’s failed experiments?

By Thomas Reese — January 5, 2022
(RNS) — God gives us every chance, but we may be blowing it.

The Holy Family at risk

By Thomas Reese — December 27, 2021
(RNS) — Christmas tells us to see the Holy Family in the refugees and immigrants in our midst.

Get vaccinated, get a booster

By Thomas Reese — December 23, 2021
(RNS) — We’re all suffering from COVID fatigue, but we know what to do to end it.

Public funding of religious schools is coming. The first lesson is compromise.

By Thomas Reese — December 14, 2021
(RNS) — What religious schools need more than anything is something like the Pell Grants that are available to low-income college students.
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