Saint Paul reminds the Thessalonians in this Sunday’s second reading of the early followers of Christ among them who were “working day and night” to proclaim the gospel of God. Rescuers in eastern Turkey have been working day and night . . .

In a warning falling rulers across the Middle East should have heeded, Jesus tells the scribes and Pharisees in this Sunday’s gospel that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled.” After having inspired the “Arab spring,” millions of Tunisians . . .

Jesus instructs the people not to follow the example of the scribes and the Pharisees, “for they preach but they do not practice.” The handling of the sex abuse scandal is one of the factors that has led to a weakening of Catholic deference to church authority . . .

The reading from the Book of Malachi this Sunday challenges Israel’s religious leaders: “Why . . . do we break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers?" A Vatican document critical of the world’s financial leaders . . .

In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus encourages the people to remember that “you have but one Father in heaven.” Pope Benedict XVI has invited members of all the world’s major faith traditions . . .

“The whole political class is just getting the memo that Ozzie and Harriet don't live here anymore.”

A U.S. State Department report says that Christians in Afghanistan, who make up less than 1 percent of the population, are so afraid of expressing their faith that not a single Christian church in school is left in the country.