Category Archives: Writing

Headlines Need Hearts: Sing a ‘News’ Song unto the Lord

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

It sounds illiberal to suggest mentioning prayer in secular news coverage.  After all, obituary writers frequently avoid discussing a deceased luminary’s faith practices, even his or her religion. When networks provided live coverage of the Sept. 21 memorial service for … Continue reading →

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Pope Leo Tells News Agencies to Cultivate Better Minds

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Here are highlights from Pope Leo’s Oct. 9 address in Rome to a conference of Minds International, a non-profit organization of news agency executives collaborating on new-media businesses. Minds International says it was founded in 2007 to support digital development … Continue reading →

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C-SPAN as Therapy—Not for Insomnia, but Sleepwalking

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Just as “core strength” is a cornerstone of personal physical fitness, awareness and exploration of truth—alignment with reality at the center of our lives—prepare us as productive communicators. A regimen of reaching out gives the individual stamina for the hard … Continue reading →

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As Humans and AI Communicate, the Watchword is Relationship

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

I’ve stumbled onto a story at the intersection of grammar, spirituality, artificial intelligence, and mysteries both timely and timeless. A news bulletin from the multiverse? No, this is simply a collection of insights, some of them mine. As a religion … Continue reading →

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The Best Book About AI Was Published in 1971

Posted on July 16, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Where’s a Lorax when you need one? This “bossy” little creature with a bushy mustache spoke up for endangered Truffula trees in Dr. Seuss’s beloved 1971 book. We young readers learned, through the book’s villain, the once-prosperous Once-ler, that the … Continue reading →

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Idea for Pope Leo: A Holy Year for a Moment of Truth

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Imaginary and hypothetical, written seriously and wistfully: MEMORANDUM To: His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV From: Bill Schmitt | “Phronesis in Pieces” Re: Proposal for a new Holy Year Date: June 30, 2025 This memo proposes that you declare 2026 a … Continue reading →

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Politics, Parades, and All They En-gender

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

The Democratic Party’s “Speaking with American Men” (SAM) project has given Americans plenty to talk about regarding attitudes toward dudes—and even more regarding personhood in the political battlefield. CNN’s Michael Smerconish opened his June 7 program with this summation of … Continue reading →

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Two Popes Speak a Common Language on Communications

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Anyone tallying subject areas where Pope Leo XIV is on the same wavelength as his predecessor will find consistent and compelling themes in the Vatican’s 2025 message for the World Day of Social Communications. Pope Francis’ text for the 59th World Communications … Continue reading →

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Mr. Trump, Launch Synodality? Holy Father, Launch DOGE?

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

President Trump has at least one thing in common with the new pope who soon will lead the world’s Catholics. Particular managerial challenges have been building up for years—in America and in the Church—and now confront both men with a … Continue reading →

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The Fault is Not in our Stars, but in our Supporting Cast

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

If reading the latest batch of books about the 2024 presidential election has already made you feel “burdened by what has been,” plan to pursue a more timeless perspective, from a very different author, on April 23. This is when … Continue reading →

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