Signs of the Times
Getting ready for the next conclave
By Thomas Reese — September 19, 2023
(RNS) — Pope Francis' cardinal electors do not know each other well; they should take their time to elect a pope.
Is synodality just another word for collegiality?
By Thomas Reese — September 12, 2023
The synod’s priorities are communion, participation, mission — not who can be priests
By Thomas Reese — September 5, 2023
More from Signs of the Times

On global warming, yes, there is hope
By Thomas Reese — August 15, 2023
(RNS) — The good news is there are ways to reduce and eliminate the growth in global warming; the bad news is I am not sure we will implement them fast enough.

Global warming is here and it is getting worse
By Thomas Reese — August 8, 2023
(RNS) — We are like frogs in a pot of water being slowly cooked as the temperature rises. We don’t have the sense to get out of the pot, let alone turn off the heat.

Vatican financial scandals: Corruption, stupidity or both?
By Thomas Reese — August 1, 2023
(RNS) — A deeply tangled tale must be followed by systemic reform and effective oversight.

We want God to be like Batman
By Thomas Reese — July 26, 2023
(RNS) — Deep in our hearts, we want God to beat up our enemies and punish evildoers.

Billions of federal dollars available for churches and nonprofits to go green
By Thomas Reese — July 20, 2023
(RNS) — Churches have a moral obligation to reduce their carbon footprint and to encourage climate justice for marginalized communities. If there is federal money to help in this effort, they should take advantage of it.

Francis now has the cardinals he needs for the next conclave. Is it enough?
By Thomas Reese — July 17, 2023
(RNS) — The College of Cardinals has never been so diverse — or unpredictable.

Pope Francis appoints men and women to build a synodal church
By Thomas Reese — July 10, 2023
(RNS) — These recent appointments show that Francis now understands that 'personnel is policy.'

How the Supreme Court’s conservative majority is making new rules for minorities
By Thomas Reese — July 3, 2023
(RNS) — If the Constitution is what five Supreme Court justices say it is, who controls the presidency and the Senate really matters.

Why the Synod on Synodality is confusing to American Catholics
By Thomas Reese — June 26, 2023
(RNS) — If an American were in charge of running the pope’s synod, it would be very different.

This just in: Catholic churches have the worst preaching and music in the US
By Thomas Reese — June 20, 2023
(RNS) — Are Catholic services simply too boring?

Catholic bishops don’t support Trump’s lies. Is silence enough?
By Thomas Reese — June 12, 2023
(RNS) — The bishops have avoided being sucked into partisan politics at the cost of supporting democracy.

What should the US Catholic bishops talk about at their meeting in Florida?
By Thomas Reese — June 6, 2023
(RNS) — Topics foremost in the public’s mind are not on the agenda: the war in Ukraine, the treatment of transgender people, global warming, the culture wars over public education, economic inequality, political divisions and the rise of hate groups.
Page 1 of 24

Thomas Reese
Signs of the Times
The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest, has been a Senior Analyst at RNS since 2017. 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.