Riots are the evil fruit of America’s systemic racism

There are prayers we pray and forget, the words falling from our memory faster than incense can rise and dissipate. And then, there are the prayers that stick with us for a lifetime. Sometimes these prayers stick with us because they are connected to trauma, loss or grief. And sometimes prayers stick with us because …

We must protect faith from the state, not by it

New Haven Colony Puritans hang a man for "crimes against the faith." As the presidential race prepares to jump into high gear, and as influential segments of American Christianity seek to ingratiate themselves with and guide — you could say manipulate — our civil government, it is worth pausing to consider the history of intermingling …

The Wisdom of Grandmom’s Dinner Table

When I was a boy, one of my favorite destinations was my Grandmom Parker’s house in southern New Jersey. You could never step foot into Grandmom’s house without being asked: “Would you like something to eat?” At that point the answer was superfluous, and the question of whether or not you were hungry was not …

What a broken leg tells us about civilization

A few days ago, I got one of those calls no parent wants to get. “Dad, I am at the emergency room.” Our elder daughter, Mary, channeled her father’s innate clumsiness and broke her leg. Thankfully, all will be well. She was seen in the ER, then by a specialist; she had X-rays and tests …