Karen Sue Smith is editorial director of America magazine, published by the Jesuits of the United States. She became a Catholic in 1976, heartened by Vatican II.

Posts By This Author

Critical Mass

by Karen Sue Smith 01-01-2012

Fifty years after Vatican II, will a new generation of lay Catholics lead prophetic change in the church and in the world?

Challenges Ahead for the Post-Vatican II Church

by Karen Sue Smith 01-01-2012

Despite the enormous success of lay involvement and Catholic outreach to the world, several trends indicate serious challenges for the Catholic Church in the United States.

Firm Foundations

by Karen Sue Smith 01-01-1987

Habitat for Humanity's Housing for People in Need is not simply charity, it helps raise money for the construction of low-income housing.