Morning Briefing

Theodore E. McCarrick -- He Preyed on Men Who Wanted to Be Priests. Then He Became a Cardinal. Some background: Retired Washington cardinal out of ministry after credible abuse allegation

The Associated Press begins its coverage of the Helsinki personal summit like this: "With a wink and a slouch, respectively, President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin opened their summit Monday as the American president declared that 'the world wants to see us get along.' " The headline reads: Trump-Putin summit opens without talk of election meddling

Reuters begins its coverage with -- Trump sits down with Putin after denouncing past U.S. policy on Russia as "foolishness and stupidity."

Writing in the New York Times, Andrew Higgins and Neil MacFarquhar say Just Sitting Down With Trump, Putin Comes Out Ahead

NCR's Michael Sean Winters says Trump's trip to Europe has not been a victory for diplomacy but it has its value to Trump's propaganda machine.

Buffalo is having its Boston moment. Clergy sex abuse revelations stun, anger Catholics in Buffalo

Manila -- As Philippine President Duterte prepares for this third State of the Union Address next week, a Catholic bishops is urging people to ask Are we better off now? Are we safe now?

July 25 marks the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical banning artificial birth control. Penny Mordaunt, Britian's International Development secretary (a cabinet post), urged the Vatican to change its strict ban on the use of contraception, in a meeting with senior aides to Pope Francis last week.

NCR's Jamie Manson says though the vast majority of lay people and theologians (and a good number of clergy) have rejected the teaching, Humanae Vitae's ban on contraception causes suffering among those least able to ignore it.

Manson's pies is part of NCR's multipart series mapping the influence of Humanae Vitae, the impact this teachinghas had in the Catholic community and where it might be pointing us in the future. 'Humanae Vitae': The maturing of church teaching

Some additional background: How the Catholic Church came to oppose birth control In 1968, Paul's declaration shocked many Catholic priests and laypeople. Conservative Catholics, however, praised the pope for what they saw as a confirmation of traditional teachings.

Some stories you may have missed from late last week:

Pope Francis' exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate ("Rejoice and Be Glad") has inspired many. NCR and Celebration have the resources to help you on yourjourney of 'small holiness'.

  • Start your day inspired with daily Scripture reflections. Join NCR's sister publication, Celebration, for Daily Bread, a series of short reflections written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings.
  • Or reflect on Pencil Preaching by Pat Marrin. Every morning Pat Marrin breaks open the Word with a pencil sketch and a short meditation.

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