The new pastoral letter on racism was approved by the bishops, 241 to 3, on Nov. 14.

After the midterms, there are a variety of other issues on which compromise is still achievable and where “good politics” can still be practiced.

The apparently state-sanctioned murder of Mr. Khashoggi offers the administration an opportunity to step back and reassess not just its relationship with the Saudi royal family but the overall mission of the United States throughout the Middle East.

We must pray for the grace to proceed boldly wherever the painful truth of our failures leads us, trusting in the One who is faithful to the end.

We must reject violence. But this is the least that we should do.

For U.S. Catholics, every synod is also a valuable reminder—and corrective—that it is not all about us.