Signs of the Times
Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to Iraq improves relations with Muslims
By Thomas Reese — March 10, 2021
(RNS) — Christians and Muslims will look back at this papacy as a turning point in their relationship.
Workers deserve a living wage, not just a minimum wage
By Thomas Reese — March 2, 2021
(RNS) — Anyone who opposes increasing the minimum wage should try, as a Lenten penance, to live off $290 a week.
We must take care of our children
By Thomas Reese — February 24, 2021
(RNS) — A refundable child tax credit would drastically reduce child poverty at a time when children are in great need.
Biden signals willingness to dialogue with bishops and other faith leaders
By Thomas Reese — February 17, 2021
(RNS) — Melissa Rogers, restored to the White House faith partnerships office, listens to all sides of a dispute.
Have a digital Lent to get through the pandemic
By Thomas Reese — February 16, 2021
(RNS) — How Alexa might help us celebrate Lent better.
Yes, the Catholic Church benefitted from federal PPP loans. Good for them.
By Thomas Reese — February 12, 2021
(RNS) — If I were a bishop, pastor or president of a school, I, too, would have gone after every penny I could legally get.
Can Joe Biden solve the Little Sisters of the Poor dilemma?
By Thomas Reese — February 8, 2021
(RNS) — Ban Form 700. Then we'll see who wants to solve the Little Sisters' problem.
Catholic bishops answer Biden executive orders with flood of press releases
By Thomas Reese — February 4, 2021
(RNS) — While it is true that conflict exists between the bishops and Biden, ignoring the areas of agreement skews the truth.
Can Catholic bishops work with the Biden administration?
By Thomas Reese — January 29, 2021
(RNS) — Reports suggest that the US bishops are ready to wage war on the new administration, but there are many areas where the bishops' and Biden's agendas converge.
With vaccinations, an army of gray volunteers is coming
By Thomas Reese — January 25, 2021
(RNS) — With older people being vaccinated first, they will be free to volunteer for meaningful work while younger people are still at risk.
Catholic bishops split on how to deal with Biden
By Thomas Reese — January 21, 2021
(RNS) — Archbishop Jose Gomez, as president of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, tried to speak for all the bishops. He ended up creating more controversy.
Don’t impeach Trump. Shun him.
By Thomas Reese — January 12, 2021
(RNS) — Shunning — or its Catholic counterpart, excommunication — is the religious equivalent of amputation. It is an extreme measure to protect the community from infection.
A Christmas without family and community
By Thomas Reese — December 23, 2020
(RNS) — Christmas celebrates God’s great surprise, but we need to see it through children’s eyes.
2020 has tested the heart and soul of America
By Thomas Reese — December 17, 2020
(RNS) — The year was horrible, but we who lived through it haven’t been perfect either. We must become better or we will be worse.
Pope’s new book speaks to Americans on racism, immigration and gender equity
By Thomas Reese — December 9, 2020
(RNS) — Readers will be surprised how relevant the book’s message is to American Catholics and the country’s leaders.
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.