Morning Briefing

Has Pope Francis a major blind spot regarding the role of women in the Church?

NCR Editorial: It's time for real authority for women in the church

St. Paul-Minneapolis -- Under fire, Archbishop Nienstedt scrambles to respond

St. Paul-Minneapolis -- Former archdiocese employee asks for review of clergyResigned from her job as chancellor for canonical affairs last fall because top church officials failed to pursue her allegations of sexual and other misconduct involving several members of the clergy.

St. Paul-Minneapolis -- Archdiocese case reads like a Dan Brown novel

Vatican City -- On the pope's 'mystical moment,' something did happen

Commentary: The Italian Journalist Deserves an Apology My, oh my, such fuss over the details of what the soon-to-be Francis did right after the vote was in.

First Monday in October: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg predicts another Democrat for White House. Feels no pressure to retire.

LOS ANGELES -- Trustees of Jesuit Loyola Marymount University university will decide Monday whether to remove coverage for elective abortions from the faculty and staff health care plans.

Commentary: Can Pope Francis heal the Catholic Church's wounds?by Mary Beth McCauley

At D.C. Red Mass: Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of Dallas warns against ‘petty partisanship’

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -- Jailed deacon slams Dominican Catholic Church’s “degenerate” priesthood

One Side: Pope Francis is launching a Vatican Spring by Paul Vallely

The Other: There is no ‘democratic revolution’ in the Vatican Talk of a ‘Vatican Spring’ misunderstands how the Church works By Fr. Alexander Lucie-Smith

Looking for an a little inspiration to begin your day?  NCR's sister publication, Celebration, gives you two options, both based on the Scripture readings of the day:

Pencil Preaching is blog that Celebration editor Pat Marrin combines scripture and sketching to reflect on the word.

Daily Bread is a series short reflections, written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings. Daily Bread is intended to help daily preachers and others who pray from the assigned scriptures each day to orient themselves to the Living Word addressed to the church in the world. It's a great way to begin the day.