Faith & Culture

Every parent wants their children to be happy. But authentic happiness requires more than good grades, a successful career or financial security. Here's how Catholic education helps prepare children for a truly flourishing life. (Photo: Denver Catholic file photo) By Michael Edghill Associate Superintendent for Mission Think about each of your children as they are right now. Think of all of the struggles and joys of parenthood. Now, imagine them at 38 years old. What do you want for...

From access to medical care to the protection of human life and religious convictions, Catholic social teaching calls for health care centered on the dignity of every person. Here's what that means for Catholics in Colorado. Part 5 of a 10-part series on the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez anoints a sick woman during the annual Mass for the World Day of the Sick. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) Health care should be patient-centered,...

From caring for the poor to protecting workers and promoting economic opportunity, Catholic social teaching offers a framework for building a just society. Here's what that means for Catholics in Colorado. Part 4 of a 10-part series on the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities During the February 2026 press conference announcing his appointment as Archbishop of Denver, Archbishop James Golka emphasized the need for Christians to care for those in need. (Photo by Grant Whitty/Denver...

Religious freedom extends beyond the walls of a church. Here's how Catholic teaching on conscience, human dignity and religious liberty informs the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities. Part 3 of a 10-part series on the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities Denver Archbishop James Golka carries a monstrance with the Eucharist in the 2026 Corpus Christi procession through downtown Denver. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) Religious liberty is rooted in the dignity of...

(Photo: Lightstock, created with AI) During a Gaudium et Spes 22 podcast on the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas this past June, I said to my friend Larry Chapp, perhaps more flippantly than the subject warranted, that the folks leading the AI revolution “don’t know the difference between metaphysics and Metamucil.” That is, they seem oblivious to the truth that there are deep truths inscribed into the human condition: truths that we can know by reason (and, Christians would insist, by...

The Catholic Church teaches that marriage and family are foundational to the faith and the common good. Here's how that vision shapes the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities. Part 2 of a 10-part series on the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez prays during the archdiocesan Anniversary Mass for married couples in 2023. (Photo by Dan Petty/Denver Catholic) Marriage and family are foundational to both society and the Catholic faith. The...

(Photo: Composite photo, assembled with AI, from Adobe Stock) By Dr. Michelle Connor Harris Executive Director St. Raphael Counseling Last night I was talking with my 23-year-old son about this article on “hope and peace amid political burnout.” His response was, “If you want to talk about hope and peace, look at Zohran Mamdani.” I sighed internally and tried, probably unsuccessfully, to control my tendency to roll my eyes at the mention of the mayor of New York. Not because of the mayor or...

From abortion and assisted suicide to the death penalty, the Catholic Church calls the faithful to defend the dignity of every human life. Here's what that means for Catholics in Colorado. Part 1 of a 10-part series on the Colorado bishops' public policy priorities Denver Archbishop James Golka opens the 2026 Colorado March for Life in prayer. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) Human life must be protected at all stages, from conception until natural death. The Catholic Church...

A volunteer at Christ in the City's Denver Lunch in the Park speaks with a guest. The local ministry hosts weekly lunches for their "friends on the street" as a means to continue building relationships and serving the poor. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) Far from mere words on a page or ideas in the ether, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a living, breathing reality that brings Scripture and Tradition to bear on our world in tangible, practical ways. In this piece, four...

Pope Leo XIV greets people as he rides in the popemobile before celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 1, 2025, as part of the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly. (Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez) The Church has always taught that the Gospel bears social implications, shaping how Christians live in the world. Catholic Social Teaching (CST), however, developed only when the fabric of Christendom — the legacy of Christian culture — had worn thin. Political...

From school boards and city councils to advocacy and public service, Catholics have opportunities to bring their faith into civic life and work for the common good. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Nathan Fisher Associate Director Colorado Catholic Conference Faith and politics share a relationship that is deeply interconnected yet distinctly separate. As Catholics, every facet of our lives must be informed by our faith, including our political outlook and engagement. I learned this firsthand...

For the Solemnity of the Assumption, a masterpiece of sacred art reveals the relationship between beauty, longing and love. Assumption of the Virgin by ​Titian, c. 1516-1518. Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy. (Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) “What makes good art?” It was the way my friend asked the question. Knowing him, he wasn’t looking for an answer that included anything along the lines of “sound composition, good lighting, technical mastery in the...