A Reflection for Wednesday of the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Kerry Weber

Catholics are a good weathervane for how the country will vote: If you win Catholics, you likely win the country.

A Reflection for the Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle, by James T. Keane

With the event, the pope hoped to raise awareness about children’s plight in war, promote global peace, care for the environment and empower the younger generation.

López Obrador says he plans to go quietly into political retirement, but AMLO playing Benedict to Claudia Sheinbaum’s Francis will be just one of the incoming Mexican president’s major challenges.

In his general audience, Pope Francis reflected on the Holy Spirit’s name, “Ruach,” meaning breath or wind. And wind, he said, “is the only thing that absolutely cannot be bridled, cannot be bottled up or put in a box.”

As Catholics, we must seriously consider where and how we live, and try to build sustainable communities with accountability to each other.

The most controversial blocks for exploration are located offshore at the mouth of the Amazon River basin. Petrobras, a government-controlled oil company, is pushing to begin preliminary drilling in search of new oil reserves.

The U.S. Catholic bishops’ latest annual report on child and youth protection shows abuse allegations are down, while safe environment protocols have taken root in the church—but guarding against complacency about abuse prevention is critical, as is providing ongoing support for survivors.

Palestinians face a much stronger neighbor who apparently can occupy territory with impunity. Irish people, with a strong cultural memory of British rule, have a visceral reaction to such a situation, he suggests.