Heidi Schlumpf

Morning Briefing: Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Myanmar; perspectives on nuclear weapons; weekend gatherings and Thanksgiving thoughts.

Book Review: One of the many things that surprised me while adopting our two children was the sizeable number of evangelical Christians in the adoption community. 

The U.S. bishops discussed immigration, racism and other social justice issues in Baltimore, but more needs to be done to effect change, say some bishops and observers. 

USCCB Fall 2017: A year and a half after the release of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation​ Amoris Laetitia, the U.S. bishops have voted to create a document and pastoral plan on marriage and family life, scheduled to be ready in November 2019.

USCCB Fall 2017: Bishops from dioceses affected by hurricanes in the past few months provided updates to the assembled conference in Baltimore Nov. 14; their message was one of ongoing struggle and need, as well as solidarity and human kindness.

The pope is "calling people to have an adult spirituality, rather than being infantilized in their spirituality," Cardinal Blase Cupich said to applause. "For people who like to tell other people what to do, that's threatening."

Morning Briefing: Elections, past and present; Notre Dame changes its mind; Catholic fashion

More victims of sexual assault are coming forward and speaking up, but church leaders have remained quiet. Advocates of victims of sexual violence and theologians consider this silence complicity.

Advocates for the poor, including Catholic ones, have had to play defense this past year, fighting proposals from the Trump administration and Republican Congress to cut social safety net programs, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid, food stamps and affordable housing. But increased attention to these issues in general has been encouraging.

Prominent New Orleans chef John Besh, who has been active in several Catholic organizations around the country, has stepped down from at least one in the aftermath of multiple allegations of sexual harassment at his restaurants and company.

Morning briefing (Reformation Day and All Hallow’s Eve edition): Tweeting your own theses (perhaps against denying LGBT funerals); history of indulgences; zombie theology.

Morning Briefing: Controversy at Georgetown, actor Mark Wahlberg asks forgiveness and "Shark Week" at the Daily Theology blog

"The main issue centers around scandal and confusion," says a communication from the vicar general, encouraging pastors to contact the Bishop Robert Morlino for guidance.

Baum died Oct. 18 in Montreal. His contributions to ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, especially during the Second Vatican Council, helped change the church's relationship to Judaism.

The slate of nominees for several leadership positions in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was released Oct. 19; The vote will take place at the U.S. bishops' meeting Nov. 13-14 in Baltimore. 

Nine out of 10 Americans find birth control to be morally acceptable, but proponents of religious liberty say that having to provide contraception through health insurance plans goes against Christian beliefs. New exemptions are fueling the debate.

NCR Today: Callista Gingrich confirmed as ambassador to Holy See; Pope Francis explains 'pastoral risk' of being direct in interviews; 35 new saints named; first-person stories from sisters in Uganda

Catholics lament Trump's plan repeal of Clean Power Plan; Australian bishops meet with Vatican to discuss sex abuse investigations; 'Amoris Laetitia' needs more bishops in "Francis mode"

Morning Briefing: Celebrating St. Francis feast day by divesting from fossil fuels; Conference on Amoris Laetitia; Supreme Court now in session; Guam facing lawsuits of those allegedly sexual abused by priests

Chicago -- Cardinal Cupich invokes the vision of his predecessor, Cardinal Bernardin, for finding common ground key to church future. Says Pope Francis shows the way.