| Correspondence | 2 |
| Editorial | 5 |
| Democracy in decline | 6 |
| Carlin, David R. Jr. | |
| What we voted for | 8 |
| McWilliams, Wilson Carey | |
| Pulpit politicking | 9 |
| Feuerherd, Peter | |
| HOW THE VATICAN WORKS | 11 |
| Steinfels, Margaret O'Brien | |
| Inside the Vatican | 14 |
| Reese, Thomas J. | |
| Looking for Richard Romeo & Juliet | 18 |
| Alleva, Richard | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 20 |
| Lodge, David | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 21 |
| Norris, Kathleen | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 22 |
| Schwartz, Jack | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 24 |
| Sayers, Valerie | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 25 |
| Gonzalez, David | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 27 |
| Deen, Rosemary | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 28 |
| Bergonzi, Bernard | |
| Critics' choices for Christmas | 29 |
| Raymo, Chet | |
| A little cello music | 31 |
| Schultz, Valerie |
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