Morning Briefing

In Ecuador, Pope Francis asks intense prayer for 'miracle' at synod; tells families to believe best is yet to come.

30 years of abuse, a week-long series recalling the beginnings of a scandal. In the first installment, Barbara Blaine recounts how reading the first report of abuse in NCR unlocked memories of her own abuse by a priest and led to the founding of the SNAP, the group that advocates for victims of abuse.

Commentary: In Australia, the Catholic Church should not wait for a national plan to redress history of abuse -- 'It can act morally now.'

In 2005 deposition recently unsealed, Bill Cosby admits to obtaining drugs to give to women with whom he intended to have sex.

From Robert Mickens: The vocations shortage is a full-blown crisis; the status quo is not a path to the future.

Vatican lends finger of St. Augustine of Hippo, a first class relic, to Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla., to help commemorate that city's 450th anniversary and the founding of America's first Catholic Church.

Theology department chairman at Fordham University marries another man; school defends his "constitutional right to marriage."

'Shine on, sisters' (and not just the religious sort.) ' A new way of working, by Dawn Cherie Araujo.

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:

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.