In this Sunday's gospel account of the Good Samaritan, Jesus challenges his audience to consider what it means to be a good neighbor. Pope Francis used the first pastoral visit of his papacy to challenge church and world on the same theme. Upending protocol and politics on a visit to the tiny island . . .

The verses from Psalm 19, one of the responsorial options this Sunday, declares the perfection of the law of the Lord, reinforcing the point with references to God's decrees, precepts, commands, and ordinances. Zeal for the rule of law, however, is not universal. A new report from the international anti-corruption . . .

Moses instructs the people in this Sunday’s first reading that the law is something very near, “already in your mouths and in your hearts.” Also close at hand and increasingly in our mouths and affecting our hearts, fatty, unhealthy foods are leading to a worldwide epidemic of obesity. The damage starts close to home—by one . . .

In this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses reveals the will of God to people who might prefer a more hidden deity. People living in northern China may not have willed polluted skies obscured from the sun by coal burning, but that is the reality half a billion residents must contend with. Life-expectancy in northern China may not have willed . . .

“The laws governing the immigration system aren’t working. . . . I do hope there is a positive resolution to the debate, and I hope during the debate that we keep a benevolent spirit in mind and we understand the contributions that immigrants make to our country.”

The number of children living in poverty in the United States rose to 23 percent in 2011, largely due to their parents' long-term unemployment,