A charismatic leader can be important to a social improvement effort. The betterment will not last, however, if things devolve into a personality cult. The tragedy of Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) is a case study in the danger of a well-intentioned movement that allows a leader to become a quasi-divine, unaccountable force. It is wrong to […]
With hammer in hand, Martin Luther (1483-1546) struck a significant blow against clericalism and for the laity in the world by insisting on the universal call to holiness. A cobbler’s work is as valuable to God as is a priest’s, he explained. The vocation of a homemaker is no further away from God than that […]
Machine Politics and the Church by Bill Droel The Catholic church and the political machine had a symbiotic relationship in Chicago and elsewhere for many years. So argues Dominic Pacyga in his latest book: Clout City (University of Chicago Press, 2025). Chicago politics was “a mixture of the sacred and the profane, a combination of […]
GIVE THANKS FOR IMMIGRANTS by Bill Droel Our flag is the number one symbol of our country. Its design of 13 stripes and 50 stars means unity through pluralism. It represents our belief in a layered government with authority given by citizenry. The flag stands for all the positive values of our experiment in democracy. […]
Poverty Is More Than Lack of Money by Bill Droel Unconditional cash assistance to the poor may not do any good. That is a conclusion from a rigorous study, Baby’s First Years (www.babysfirstyears.com). An experiment, supervised by eight researchers, gave $333 per month for 48 months to 1,000 needy families from the Twin Cities, Omaha, […]
Catholic Churches Do Not Endorse Candidates by Bill Droel Catholic churches will not take advantage of a new provision in the U.S. tax code. Since 1894 all charitable groups that obtained a 501 (c) 3 tax letter have been excused from paying federal taxes, and usually local taxes. In 1954 there was an addition to […]
Pope Leo XIII and Controversy in the United States by Bill Droel Our new Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name to pair his interest in our high-tech economy with Pope Leo XIII’s (1810-1903) interest in the industrial revolution. Today’s social questions, particularly “developments in the field of artificial intelligence pose new challenges for the […]
The Other Pope Leo by Bill Droel Pope Leo XIV, originally of Chicago, chose his papal name to recall Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903), particularly his critique of the industrial revolution, titled On the Condition of Labor. The current Pope Leo is likewise interested in today’s social questions, including the looming effects of AI. “In our […]
The Working Catholic: Labor Day History by Bill Droel The original Labor Day parade was held in 1882, in New York City. It was sponsored by the Knights of Labor. Its organizers were two Catholics. Though not related, they shared the same last name. Matthew McGuire (1855-1917) was a machinist from New Jersey; Peter McGuire […]
Why Unions at Good Companies?The Working Catholic by Bill Droel “Why did the new, worker friendly workplaces prove unable to keep their employees happy enough not to have to pay union dues?” So asks a Chicago Tribune editorial (4/10/24). The editors have in mind Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, the camping equipment retailer REI plus several museums […]