I. Introduction: The Bad News before the Good News During an election season, we are buffeted and surfeited with polls some of which seem to point in conflicting directions. For that reason I hesitate to bring up yet another poll but this one may well deserve our attention. Recently the Pew Foundation did a survey...Read More

Next week, a federal appeals court will hear arguments regarding John Merzbacher’s request to be released from prison. John Merzbacher was a teacher at Catholic Community School in South Baltimore who sexually abused and terrorized multiple children during the 1970s. Without getting into the legal technicalities, Merzbacher and his attorneys claim he was never made...Read More

I. Introduction: Mary Seat of Wisdom On this beautiful autumn Sunday in which the Scripture readings speak to us about the Wisdom of God, we have gathered from near and far on pilgrimage to this august Basilica, dedicated to Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, the Seat of Wisdom. With Mary’s loving encouragement, we have...Read More

I. Introduction: New Beginnings It was nearly five months ago that I was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore. Providentially, my installation occurred on the cusp of the Year of Faith which will official commence this coming Thursday, October 11th, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the II Vatican Council in Rome and...Read More

I. Introduction Let me thank you warmly for the opportunity to address you today about the topic of protecting, defending, and fostering religious liberty in the public square. In a special way I want to thank the bishops of the great State of Missouri for extending the invitation to me to speak to you today...Read More

A journalist was attending a dinner party where the Catholic Church was the topic of conversation. Everyone at the dinner table had negative things to say about the Church. After a while, everyone noticed he had remained silent. Knowing that he was a practicing Catholic, his dinner partner said, “Well, why do you still go...Read More

I. Introduction: A Few Memories To me it is almost unimaginable that twenty years have passed since the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious was established and received canonical recognition from the Holy See. I account it a wonderful blessing to share this anniversary with you, to join with you in giving thanks to...Read More

On Election Day, November 6, citizens of Maryland will have the enormous responsibility of deciding the fate of a law that seeks to change the legal definition of marriage in our state. In short, Maryland voters will decide whether marriage as it has been known for centuries will remain as God intended, as a union...Read More