Be witnesses to the resurrection

In the Easter season the Church celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a season in which we share the joy of those first apostles, who lived with the risen Lord as he taught them the meaning of the Scriptures and strengthened their faith and prepared them to go out and bear witness to his resurrection.

The mission of mercy

In this season of the Resurrection, Pope Francis has given us a great gift.

He has announced a Holy Year, an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. It will start during Advent, on Dec. 8, the Immaculate Conception, and it will continue until Christ the King Sunday, November 20, 2016.

Easter and religious freedom

It was a beautiful Easter. More than 10,000 people came to join us for worship services at the cathedral during Holy Week. And across the archdiocese, we baptized nearly 2,000 new Christians at Easter.

¡Que viva el Beato Oscar Romero!

In God’s providence, the beautiful and challenging Gospel passage that we just heard was the same Gospel that was proclaimed at the final Mass celebrated by Archbishop Oscar Romero, 35 years ago this week.

It is time to end the death penalty

It is time for our country to put an end to the death penalty.

There is a case pending right now in the U.S. Supreme Court that is looking at the practical problems with the way capital punishment is administered through lethal injections. The justices will hear arguments on the issue next month.

Religious education and the encounter with Christ

As I write, I’m getting ready for our annual Religious Education Congress, as I know many of you are, too.

The Congress is one of the high points of every year here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — and it has been for decades.