A story to contemplate as you begin the week: As soon as St. Therese of the Child Jesus Sisters moved onto the church grounds in a rural region outside of Beijing, abandoned babies with severe disabilities started showing up on the doorstep.
Solar Eclipse Day. Kansas City, Missouri, world HQ for NCR, is on the edge of the line of totality, but the Weather Service is predicting cloudy weather at midday and approaching thunderstorms. Hoping it ain't so: US Catholic parishes, schools happy to be in path of solar eclipse
Is the eclipse a sign of end times? Hardly so, Wisconsin priest says
Back to School feature report: Worry, hope arise over guidelines for LGBT students, families
Australia's Catholic church is threatening to fire teachers, nurses and other employees who marry their same-sex partner if gay marriage is legalised. Archbishop Denis Hart: Defiance to church teaching would be treated "very seriously."
Catholic communities take on Charlottesville
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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is an organization in the midst of change: SNAP's evolution evident at gathering, in wake of departures
Ireland’s Catholic bishops create guidelines for priests with children. "At a minimum, no priest should walk away from his responsibilities."
At least 81 people dead last week in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's already very bloody anti-narcotics campaign: Deadliest week in drug war outrages Catholic bishops
President Donald Trump is to make a prime time broadcast speech this evening. His expected topic: Afghan Strategy Expected to Raise Troop Levels
Meanwhile, South Korean and U.S. troops begin annual war games, and South Korea warns North not to provoke conflict as U.S. military officials arrive in Seoul. (Annoying video on this page, sorry.)
New Polls Show Trump’s Presidency Stands on Perilous Ground: His job approval rating in the three states that won him the White House — Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — is below 40 percent.
In Zimbabwe, in a letter directed especially to young people, Catholic bishops say it is a sin not to vote. "Youths, it is your time now to change the face of Zimbabwe politically. Do not let the old leaders (madhara aya) continue making depraved decisions for you. Take the stance and challenge them through the ballot."
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.
