Fr. Tom Reese says the makeup of Synod of Bishops on the family is disappointing
In case you missed the earlier story: Pope appoints 14 couples to attend Synod of Bishops on family
Nuns on the Bus, round 3: Global Sisters Report will be there, and the new Nuns on the Bus tour will tackle political ‘dark money’
Missouri's governor and the courts refused to halt the execution this morning of 40-year-old Earl Ringo Jr. despite media reports that Missouri has used a controversial drug that has been implicated in botched executions in three other states. Missouri's use of controversial drug looms over execution
Grant Gallicho at Commonweal takes a long, hard look at The Curious Case of Carlos Urrutigoity. Urrutigoity is the Argentine priest who left the United States under a cloud of sex abuse allegations but ended up as vicar general in Paraguay until he was removed from the post in July following a Vatican investigation.
The left’s relentless “war on women” campaign is producing some odd results, one of which is the emergence of Republicans who champion over-the-counter contraceptives. As Time puts it, “Republicans Can’t Stop Talking About Over-the-Counter Birth Control.”
Are sisters conducting surveillance to find new recruits? Nun surveillance? 
Global Sisters Report, devoted to covering the mission and ministry of Catholic women religious. It offers news, commentary and reflections on spirituality and theology.
The Sept. 12 issue of Catholic San Francisco, official newspaper of the San Francisco archdiocese, carries a special report: Gay rights money funds archbishop’s critics. In this three-part series, Catholic San Francisco will analyze Faithful America, the funding of groups that call themselves Catholic or faith-based and attack Catholic leaders and teaching. Make sure you look at Part II: Letter signers chastised
Roman Catholic parishes hold special weekend collection for Middle East Christians
Commentary: Ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has become a new Thirty Years' War
Looking for 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 a blog in which Celebration editor Pat Marrin combines Scripture and sketching to reflect on the Word.
Daily Bread is a series of 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.
