What is liberty? On founding ideals, Black resistance, and the promise of freedom
Tamika Royes unpacks the meaning of freedom, as recently extolled by Pope Leo XIV, and the complex early history of Black Americans and Canadians.
Government
State Del. Adrian Boafo wins Democratic primary to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland
The 32-year-old lobbyist beat out a crowded field with the help of Hoyer's endorsement and roughly $11 million from the crypto and Israel lobbies.
Red rising: Socialist activist Darializa Avila Chevalier upsets U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York primary
The win for the 32-year-old doctoral student over a nine-year incumbent was the most notable among three for endorsees of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
500-year-old slave revolt of 1526 redefines freedom as U.S. turns 250
Before 1776 or 1619, enslaved Africans seized freedom in 1526 on land that would become the United States.
Robert White wins Democratic primary for D.C. seat in House of Representatives
The 44-year-old Black Catholic is all but ensured to succeed the retiring Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who helped him start his political career.
My experience at a Chicago justice conference showed me the power of Christian witness.
Daryl Grigsby recounts his time at an ecumenical gathering centered on "holy resistance" and its outworking in the current American moment.
What can White pro-lifers learn from the Black community (and Black history)?
Briana Jansky writes that despite shared goals among pro-lifers, there are still large gaps in communication and an undercurrent of anti-Blackness.
The new prayer service from the U.S. Catholic bishops doesn't honor the enslaved. It erases them.
Nate Tinner-Williams says the new text is a cheapened catch-all intended for immigrants—with African Americans as a throwaway half-mention.
New York mayor endorses DSA-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier against incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat for Congress
The mayor made a joint appearance with his fellow Democratic Socialists of America member on MS NOW to announce his support of her campaign for New York’s 13th district.
In the fight for the soul of America, which side are Catholics on?
Daryl Grigsby opines on the moral failings of Trumpism and the peculiar Catholic attachment to it that persists despite all manner of wickedness.
Louisiana GOP senators drop majority-Black district in proposed gerrymander
by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator (May 13, 2026)
A moral call to defend Black voting rights: How Catholics should respond
Efran Menny surveys the history of African-American disenfranchisement and urges faithful Catholic witness to stem the tide of injustice.
Virginia Supreme Court nixes Democrats' congressional map amid voting rights fracas
The 4-3 ruling from a conservative-majority bench said a spring voter referendum was authorized improperly in violation of the state constitution.
No deportation date for Bolivian immigrant tabbed for Congo
by Lyle Muller, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 5, 2026
The color of confinement: Race, mental health, and the American illness
Harlan McCarthy explains the connections between anti-Black racism, mass incarceration, and the mental health crisis plaguing America.
'I stand in solidarity': Black bishop defends Pope Leo XIV amid White House attacks
Archbishop Shelton Fabre is among the numerous Catholic prelates speaking out in the wake of anti-Catholic comments from President Donald Trump.