This domain is a religiously grounded application of our Catholic Tradition within political, economic, and social domains. Often under the guise of Catholic Trends, I riff off of topics of contemporary interest that hopefully are consonant with our Social Justice Tradition.

CATHOLIC TRENDS

Catholic Trends (WINTER (#4) 2026)

• Is Christianity compatible with capitalism and nationalism – or does the Gospel demand something radically different? A debate stretching from Austrian economists to modern political leaders raises the question.
• From papal diplomacy to cultural flashpoints, today’s Catholic conversation spans wars, politics, economics, and moral witness in a divided world.
• Are Catholics becoming ideological tribes instead of disciples? Conflicts over nationalism, abortion, justice, and papal authority reveal deep tensions within the Church.
• Politics, moral data, papal leadership, and cultural clashes – a rapid-fire look at the issues stirring debate inside and outside the Church.

Catholic Trends (Winter (#3) 2026)

• Are Catholic moral values becoming a minority voice? New Gallup data reveals how Americans now judge issues of life, sexuality, and human dignity.
• What do clergy actually believe? A national survey uncovers surprising differences in belief about God, the Resurrection, Hell, and biblical truth.
• Does regular worship shape moral conviction? Fresh polling suggests religious practice still strongly influences views on marriage and sexuality.
• Signs of faith, tension, and hope in the Church today: from sacramental life and abuse perceptions to Pope Leo’s global popularity and a call to preach from prayer – not AI – this snapshot captures a Church navigating a complex cultural movement.

Catholic Trends (Winter (#2) 2026)

• Why are nine out of ten cradle Catholics leaving the Church? New research points to the decisive role of parents, marriage, and credible lived faith in raising lifelong Catholics.
• Catholicism is shifting geographically and politically in the U.S. The South is gaining millions of Catholics, while Democrats face a growing religious disconnect that’s reshaping electoral realities.
• A deepening rift in the global Church: German Bishops reject sexual binary teaching even as Rome forcefully affirms it – raising urgent questions about authority, unity, and fidelity.

Catholic Trends (WINTER 2026)

• Who counts as “Catholic” in America today?
• Ancient devotion, modern impact – praying the Rosary and its benefits.
• Faith, culture, and controversy at a crossroads – the FBI’s surveillance of Catholics.

Catholic Trends (Winter 2025)

• Pope Francis assures President Donald Trump of prayers, but says that mass deportations would be a disgrace.
• Christians make up the largest share of the world’s migrant population.
• Catholic marriage today.

Catholic Trends (Fall 2025)

• New Study on Catholic life in the United States.
• Church’s show resilience five years after the pandemic.
• The impact of Mary, the Mother of the Church, on ecclesial vocations.

CATHOLIC TRENDS (SUMMER (#2) 2025)

• Where does Pope Leo XIV stand on hot-button issues?
• Pam Bondi targets medical profession in providing services to sexually confused minors.
• Pope Leo stresses character formation as he spoke to Catholic educators.

CATHOLIC TRENDS (SUMMER (#1) 2025)

• Money, lies, and God. Inside the movement to destroy American democracy; a look at Christian nationalism that begins by riffing off the Last Judgment.
• President Trump closing U.S.A.I.D. could cost an estimated 14 million lives by 2030.
• Many still watching mass online after the pandemic.

CATHOLIC TRENDS (WINTER 2024)

• Are there bigoted cell groups within the FBI that are anti-Catholic?
• “Is the Pope Catholic? Catholic identity in the Media” was a provocative presentation at a recent Religious Research Association annual meeting.
• Newer priests tend to be more ideologically conservative.

CATHOLIC TRENDS (SPRING 2024)

• Raising Catholic children to be active Catholic adults.
• The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Good News and baptize all nations, which beings at home. How are we doing?
• 85% of Catholic young people leave the Faith as adults for other religions or none at all. What’s going on?