In John's gospel this Sunday Jesus informs his disciples, "Without me you can do nothing." U.S. intelligence officials are wondering whether without U.S. assistance Pakistan's government will be able to stop a growing Taliban insurgency.

The First Letter of John counsels us to love "not in word or speech but in deed and truth." President Barack Obama has made it clear that his replacement pick for retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter must be a person of "empathy," and observers ponder the implications of that criterion.

Saul moved about freely with the disciples in Jerusalem, we read in the Acts of the Apostles this Sunday. But drivers across the country will not have such an easy time of it in coming months. They will have to contend with greatly increased roadwork--and all the frustration that goes with it--as states prepare to launch a spate of new highway projects.

The lowly shall eat their fill, promises the psalmist this Sunday. But for the time being, actress and activist Mia Farrow will not. Wednesday marked the 11th day of Farrow's 21-day all-water fast in support of refugees in Darfur.

This Sunday's gospel is filled with agricultural images: vines, branches, fruit. A new race car unveiled this week by scientists at the University of Warwick in England may contain vines, branches, and more. 

"I think it's unfair that because we have been honest and transparent with the world some countries and places are taking repressive and discriminatory measures because of ignorance and disinformation. There are always people who are seizing on this pretext to assault Mexicans, even just verbally."

The Catholic Church runs 10 schools in Baghdad. The majority of students are Muslim. Fewer than 5,000 Catholics remain in Baghdad.