The change was in “no way” a response to the C.C.H.D.’s persistent online critics, an archdiocesan official says.

“What we need to do is just continue to live out the challenge of ‘Laudato Si’,’ which is to examine our relationship with the earth, with God and with each other to see how we can become better stewards of this gift of the earth.”

A Vatican conference represents the beginning of a coordination of Catholic universities, institutions and bishops's conferences on this issue.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded quickly after the letter became public.

Mogadishu was rocked to its core on Oct. 14 by a truck bombing that left 358 dead and hundreds wounded. The missing are still being sifted for among the scorched rubble.

“We absolutely welcome the pope’s strong statement on this issue; we welcome the moral clarity and the leadership he is showing.”

The president’s threats, according to the statement, “have brought the world to the brink of a nuclear catastrophe and have intensified global insecurity.”

According to Catholic social tradition, paying taxes is part of the way Catholic citizens contribute to the common good.

This year the Grand Bargain on refugees seems increasingly fragile.

“The health of the American people is incredibly important...you just don’t railroad something through, something you’ve just whipped together in the last couple of weeks.”