Perspectives

Articles, essays, and reflections from progressive Catholic voices.

To contribute to Perspectives or submit an article, contact cta@cta-usa.org.

Second Sunday of Advent: How Do We Anticipate With Joy?

For the Second Sunday of Advent, 2022, CTA’s new Executive Director Donna Tarney reflects on the complexity of brokenness and joy.

Call To Action 11/27/22 Call To Action 11/27/22

First Sunday of Advent: Stay Awake!

For the First Sunday of Advent, 2022, Interim Executive Director Lauren Barbato reflects on what it means to “stay awake” as North American Catholics grappling with our ugly personal and collective pasts.

Call To Action 11/7/22 Call To Action 11/7/22

Sacred Necessity

Interim Executive Director Lauren Barbato reflects on the 2022 midterm elections, violence, and abortion. She writes that it’s time for Catholics to take sacred, necessary action.

Call To Action 10/5/22 Call To Action 10/5/22

CTA Constituencies Speak Out in the Synod on Synodality

A compilation of synod reports from around the country.

Call To Action 9/13/22 Call To Action 9/13/22

Our Church is Out of Time

CTA member Joseph Ramelo on disavowing capitalism and exploitation from our way of being church.

Call To Action 9/12/22 Call To Action 9/12/22

How the Poor People’s Campaign is making ‘good trouble’

CTA member Angela Howard-McParland in U.S. Catholic: “…we have a pope who has stated clearly that a good Catholic meddles in politics.”

Call To Action 8/10/22 Call To Action 8/10/22

Surveillance, Suspicion, Criminalization: The Dangers of Post-Roe America

Lauren Barbato: "We haven’t been ushered into an era free from abortion, but an era of increasing, unrestrained suspicion, surveillance, and criminalization of pregnant people. How far will we, as Catholics, allow the pro-life movement to continue down this road?"

Call To Action 5/26/22 Call To Action 5/26/22

As Catholic bishops punish dissent, Rosemary Radford Ruether’s life and legacy show the way forward

Lauren Barbato in Religion Dispatches: “At a time when Roe will likely fall, and Catholics have substantial representation in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, the choice to remain silent carries almost as high stakes as the choice to dissent.”