Matched! $5,000 challenge met! But we still need your support.

The $5,000 challenge grant has been met! Because of your generosity, our anonymous $5,000 challenge grant has been matched. Thanks to all of you who have made a donation or joined our membership program during this Spring Fund Drive. You doubled your money and put us within reach of our $100,000 goal. Help bring this drive to a successful close.

Dear NCRonline.org reader,

I write as a fellow lover of NCR to ask your financial support for the Spring Fund Drive.

For more than 50 years, NCR has been an independent source of news, political commentary, book reviews and spiritual insight for Catholics, indeed, for all people of faith.

Where would we be without Joshua J. McElwee's in-depth reporting from the Vatican, or Heidi Schlumpf's creative coverage of the national scene — particularly her recent investigative series about a well-financed traditionalist group — FOCUS — that is successfully reaching out to college-age Catholics?

Michael Sean Winters' thought-provoking blog about all things political in our church and in our country brings important gospel perspective to realities that challenge and often trouble us.

Yet, none of this independent Catholic journalism can happen without the support of people like you. Please consider a one-time donation, or even better, become an NCR member

Your support allows NCR to bring its amazing, award-winning content free of charge via NCRonline.org.

I was a fan of NCR long before I became a regular columnist writing "Simply Spirit." I'm a fan because NCR helps me shape my own views about the troubling political and religious issues that challenge us today.

Facing up to gun violence, clergy sex abuse, the refugee/immigration crisis, and environmental degradation requires both facts and wise reflection. NCR's wide-ranging reporting and access to Catholic wisdom from the likes of Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Mariam Williams, Jesuit Fr. Tom Reese, Melissa Musick Nussbaum, Jamie Manson, and an array of young voices helps us know what the gospel is asking of us.

Likewise, NCR's in-depth coverage and analysis about the Vatican's commission on female deacons, the inspiring global ministries of women religious, whether women are advancing in church decision-making (or not), and rapidly-evolving LGBTQ issues provide activist Catholics — young and old — with the facts they need to transform sexism and homophobia in church structures.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 this spring — won't you please help?

Thanks so much!

P.S. In addition to your financial support, please share NCR articles and commentary within your own social media circles!

[St. Joseph Sr. Christine Schenk served urban families for 18 years as a nurse midwife before co-founding FutureChurch, where she served for 23 years. She holds master's degrees in nursing and theology. She has writing the "Simply Spirit" column for NCR since 2014.]

This story appears in the Spring Fund Drive 2018 feature series. View the full series.

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