Features
 From the inside outMichael McMahonAs the country?s prison population soars, consisting more often than not of re-offenders, a Catholic prison chaplain explains why incarceration in itself is not enough to discourage individuals from a life of crime. Support from the community into which they are released is crucial... | America?s prisons in the dockRobert F. DrinanThe United States incarcerates a higher proportion of its population than any other country, yet a report published recently reveals a system failing in its essential functions. With public opinion against forgiveness, what hope is there that it will make a difference? asks a Jesuit law professor...
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 A question of trustRobert FoxBritain?s most senior soldier, Sir Richard Dannatt, fears that widespread disillusionment over the war in Iraq is damaging the delicate relationship between the armed forces, political leaders and the nation. If he is right the problem needs urgent attention... | Challenge of forgivenessPeter StanfordThe TV play Longford revives memories of the peer?s contentious campaign on behalf of the murderer Myra Hindley. The question, still pertinent today, is whether, in today?s victim-led culture, we can we be persuaded to forgive those who have harmed us...
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Perfect freedomThis week?s opening prayer wrestles with the question of compulsion in the divine-human encounter. Daniel McCarthy reminds us of Christ?s teaching and example, that shows us how the road to liberty is through service...
| Democracy under fireKonstantin EggertThe murder of a world-famous investigative reporter has cast a shadow over the Putin Government, but the reaction says as much about the state of modern Russia as do the theories about who was responsible...
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Don?t keep it to yourselfJohn HemerOn Mission Sunday we remember Christ?s command that we make disciples of all the nations. In an age that deems it offensive to preach the Gospel to non-believers, what does this mean for us?...
| Is anybody there?Daniel O?LearyChristian theology has never quite resolved the question of how near or far are the souls of the departed, and what exactly we ask for when we pray for them on All Souls? Day...
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The road from IbizaClaire RobertsWhat is being done to help young people to develop their faith, and to contribute to the Church and the world? A twenty-something went to Birmingham to find out...
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Columnists
 Tim Hames?It seems strange that as society becomes more secular, interest in faith schools increases?  Ann Wroe?The image of God as a boyish egg-stealer, teetering on a branch, is wonderful?
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Books and arts
Flawed case for the prosecution Free
The God Delusion
Richard Dawkins
Though not exactly "the book of the movie", this latest offering from the Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, and self-appointed scourge of religious ... |
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Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools?
Christopher Lamb
According to the chairman of governors at the Cardinal Vaughan School, west London, one ... Goodwin the scapegoat
Elena Curti
There was an old Sixties TV series, Branded, about a disgraced soldier that always began ... The pain of being a coeliac Catholic
Sr M, guest contributor
"Whoever comes to me, I shall not turn (him) her away" (John 6:37). Many readers will recognise ...
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