Heidi Schlumpf

The NETWORK annual scorecard shows that Catholic lawmakers’ votes fall along party lines. My latest at Commonweal: @networklobby.bsky.social

A Shrine and a School Christian Smith wants Notre Dame to be pure. But shrines are never pure—and Notre Dame is an American Catholic shrine.

"Smith’s bitter critique of Notre Dame’s problems betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of its reality. “Catholic” means “here comes everybody,” even and especially when they disagree." From Cathleen Kaveny and Robin Darling Young

www.commonwealmagazine.org/kaveny-young...

Trump shares racist video depicting Obamas as apes on Truth Social, then removes it amid bipartisan outrage | CNN Politics President Donald Trump shared a racist video on his social media platform Thursday night that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes in a jungle, then remo...

I'm shocked but not surprised at the blatant racism from this president. And this kind of thing gives others "permission" to be blatantly racist too. Just sickening.

www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/p...

Religious folks are leading the way in MN but the response from Catholic clergy is relatively weak.

Great event at the Hank Center last night where I responded to Fr. Mark Massa's talk on Catholic fundamentalism (including some conversation about fundamentalism on social media) @hankcenterloyola.bsky.social @boisicenter.bsky.social

‘How Will You Say No?’ A religious movement is underway to correct the sad course our country has taken. Catholics should be part of it.

"While the response from religious leaders overall is encouraging, the small numbers of Catholic clergy from the St. Paul–Minneapolis archdiocese is disappointing. If ever there were a time for the Church to be courageous and outspoken, it would be now."

www.commonwealmagazine.org/ice-good-pre...

"The US is not Germany in the 1930s. But it is sobering to see similar patterns reemerging from that fateful decade. We have reason to worry about the direction our society has taken in recent years." --Bishop Taylor, who lost family in the Holocaust

t.co/85FQLeZM91

Leo the Manager Leo possesses the mind of a mathematician and canon lawyer. He has the makings of an effective manager—even of a sprawling organization like the Church.

Nine months into his papacy, we are starting to get a feel for Pope Leo's leadership. Signs point to him having some decent managerial skills. My latest for Commonweal:

www.commonwealmagazine.org/schlumpf-leo...

What does Catholic Social Teaching have to say about the Renee Good killing? My latest for Commonweal:

Trump’s Pyrrhic Victory Trump has made clear his intention to turn the United States into a reflection of himself: a rogue nation with the methods and morals of a mob boss.

"That other presidents have unilaterally exercised force to topple governments abroad in no way excuses Trump’s attack on Venezuela. All such actions are dark marks on our history. Many have also had catastrophic consequences." --Commonweal editors

www.commonwealmagazine.org/editorial-ve...

"We have spawned a culture of online Catholic influencerism that has poisoned the church, twisted it into two opposing camps locked in a seemingly endless contest that does little to advance the reign of God but raises a lot of money and exerts remarkable political influence."

Why the news leak about New York's change in archbishops should trouble Catholics (RNS) — We must end the sense among Catholics that one ‘side’ is winning or losing.

Icymi

religionnews.com/2025/12/23/w...

A Year of Contrasts 2025 saw the eclipse of Donald Trump as the most important American in the world.

"The second-most-important American leader seems intent on implementing policies that go against nearly every Catholic moral priority."

@heidischlumpf.bsky.social: 2025 will be remembered for two U.S.-born leaders who couldn’t be more different.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-trump-po...

A Year of Contrasts 2025 saw the eclipse of Donald Trump as the most important American in the world.

My year-end column on Pope Leo and Donald Trump.

www.commonwealmagazine.org/leo-trump-po...

Eritrean imam dies in ICE custody as detainee deaths hit 20-year high (RNS) — Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir is one of four people who died in immigration detention over a four-day period this month, raising alarm among advocates about deteriorating conditions at immigration fa...

Four deaths in four days. These are concentration camps.

religionnews.com/2025/12/21/e...

Controversial Crèches Christmas crèches have always included a prophetic purpose. This year, some churches are using their nativity scenes to call out mass deportations.

The black plastic zip ties around the baby Jesus’ wrists are shocking. But then so were the eyewitness reports that children were zip-tied during a violent immigration-enforcement operation at a Chicago apartment building in October.

www.commonwealmagazine.org/ice-nativity...

"Some #churches, using public art [Anti-ICE nativities] to do public #theology, have chosen to be #prophetic about this key political and moral issue [dignity of immigrants] of our time", writes @heidischlumpf.bsky.social in a key reflection for @commonweal.bsky.social.

Lost Generations The Vatican's report opposing the ordination of women deacons only makes it harder for women to remain in the Church.

Church leaders talk a lot about evangelization but ignore the most obvious way to bring people in. My column on the deacons commission's report:

www.commonwealmagazine.org/heidi-schlum...

The Pope's first trip, the continuing saga of women deacons, and a pop-culture roundup — The Francis Effect We end our 17th season with a look at the current state of the Catholic Church, as well as with a look at what we've been watching, reading, and listening to lately

Our last episode of the Francis Effect podcast of the season. See you in the new year! @daultradio.bsky.social

francisfxpod.com/current/2516

After attending a talk by Timothy Snyder and Rachel Maddow, I realized our faith says the same thing he did: keep doing the thing. (With thanks to Ann Garrido!)

Conservative Catholic colleges growing as families opt for ‘faithful’ schools (RNS) — Several ‘trad Catholic’ schools have shown surprising financial strength in a time when other small colleges are struggling.

My second piece for the RNS series on Catholic higher education, this one on how "trad" schools seem to be growing and doing well financially.

religionnews.com/2025/12/03/c...

Can Catholic Universities Stay Catholic? Religion News Service (RNS)

Also I'll be part of this webinar panel on Thursday:
religionnews.com/2025/11/13/c...

When Catholic colleges cut theology majors, what happens to Catholic identity? (RNS) — Just 63% of Catholic higher education institutions have theology or religious studies departments, down from 69% in 2016.

St. Norbert is not the only Catholic institution facing demographic and fiscal challenges, nor is it the only one to cut liberal arts to try to address those issues. My story for @RNS:
religionnews.com/2025/12/02/w...

I KNOW!!!!

My piece with comments from @ordainwomen.bsky.social, Discerning Deacons and Phyllis Zagano.

Advent Calendars Gone Wild Can Advent calendars stuffed with hot sauce, stuffed animals, and panties still stir feelings of anticipation and mystery?

Advent is not a 12-day season of buying yourself more stuff. My rant--I mean, column:

www.commonwealmagazine.org/advent-calen...

The USCCB Conference, reopening the government, and an interview with Kat Armas — The Francis Effect Heidi, Daniel, and David do a deep dive into the recent Bishops' Conference, and we look at the ongoing fallout from the government shutdown as the country struggles to reopen. Then Heidi interviews K...

New podcast episode this week includes my interview with the amazing Kat Armas on resisting empire for Advent.

francisfxpod.com/current/2515

What’s next for Catholic colleges and universities in an increasingly pluralistic America? Join RNS Editor-in-Chief Paul O’Donnell in conversation with @heidischlumpf.bsky.social, Robert Vischer, Patricia McGuire and Amy Uelmen on Dec. 4 for a virtual panel.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Global poverty fight stalls as inequalities deepen, new report says The Fordham Pope Francis Global Poverty Report, compiled by researchers at Fordham University's Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development, paints a mixed but increasingly pol...

One of the report's most troubling findings concerns gender equity. According to the World Economic Forum's Health and Survival Index, 51.3% of women and girls — approximately 2 billion people — in 2023 lived in societies with severe gender discrimination.

www.ncronline.org/news/global-...

Excellent reporting from the bishops' meeting by Aleja Herzler-McCain at RNS: