America asked its readers to send us a photo and description of their Nativity set and tell us what makes it special.

At the risk of wading into one of our nation’s and church’s most contentious questions, America asked our readers when they think is the right time to decorate for Christmas.

Many countries around the globe employ a system of mandatory national service for their citizens. We asked our readers: Is mandatory service for U.S. citizens a good idea?

Listeners of Jesuitical offer their own answer to the podcast's recurring question.

‘I take that to mean the true in persona Christi role is not exercising special powers but witnessing that even the worst can be saved.’

We asked our readers: In what ways is the church helping Latinos live out their faith in this country?

Ciaran Freeman spent last summer, after his year as an O’Hare fellow at America Media, combing through movies about Catholic schools and ranking them. The findings were published here. Since then, readers have written in to let Mr. Freeman know what films he overlooked in his top-10 ranking.

“It’s their policies that have to speak to the way I interpret my own faith.”

Part of our special family issue.

‘Who else has written so keenly and movingly about hope, evil, endurance, pain, greed, transcendence, all the things that make us human?’