Advent with NCR: O Compassionate God, O Radiant Dawn -- Daily reflections
Encounters with Mandela, the spiritual giant
Australia -- Royal Commission on sexual abuse of children: Survivors flee hearing in tears. Catholic church's "Toward Healing" program now under scrutiny. (Video and words)
Ballarat, Australia -- A retired bishop whose ill-health and age helped him avoid the sex-abuse inquiry is living independently and even celebrating Mass at a picturesque coastal retreat.
Mae Sot, Thailand -- Food aid for Myanmar refugees in camps in norhtern Thailand has been cut by 33 percent from Dec. 1
Congress Readies a Year-End Dash: Action on Budget, Other Fronts Is Possible in Final Weeks of Session (Some content may be behind a pay wall for some visitors.)
Wellsville, Ohio -- Parishioners of the now-closed Immaculate Conception Catholic Church appeal to Pope Francis.
Analysis: Plenty for Canadians to like in Evangelii Gaudium
The joy of the Gospel: sisters and Catholic Workers
Boston, Mass. -- Child welfare advocates are calling on Cardinal O'Malley to back legislation that would extend the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Seattle, Wash. -- State’s Catholic bishops boost gun safety initiative closing the so-called “gun show loophole.”
US Bishops protest against demolition of Church property in Holy Land
Rome -- Pope talks openly about reform, sex abuse, Dutch bishop says
As Toledo, Ohio, Catholics say good by to Bishop Leonard Blair, they wonder: Will the new bishop be community minded and ecumenical, or more focused on internal church organization.
North Korea purges Kim Jong Un's powerful uncleAnalysts worry the expulsion would instead lead to less stability and open up the possibility of a power struggle.
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.
