Saint Paul is confident that early followers of Christ will escape condemnation. “It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?” he asks rhetorically in this Sunday’s second reading. American soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan, however, have faced harsh condemnation . . .

Jesus is transformed in a dazzling manner in front of Peter, James, and John in this Sunday’s gospel story of the Transfiguration. Three years after the U.S. auto industry nearly collapsed, automakers have transformed their businesses and are reporting dazzling sales numbers. The happy result for autoworkers . . .

The take-away lesson in this Sunday’s psalm and the riveting first reading: To believe in God in times of affliction is the ultimate test of faith. Aged and ailing Fidel Castro is rumored to have come away from his recent health afflictions with a renewed religious faith. Cuba scholars, however, express skepticism . . .

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” asks Saint Paul in this Sunday’s second reading, suggesting that followers of Christ were entitled to expect much from God. The rich are feeling so entitled these days, a new study suggests, that they are more likely to lie and even take candy from children . . .

“I intend to help give voice to my fellow citizens who believe, as I do, that we must return to an era of civility in government driven by a common purpose to fulfill the promise that is unique to America.”

According to the Federation of American Scientists, nine nations now have 20,500 nuclear warheads and bombs. The United States holds 8,500 of them.