In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus stretches out his hand to heal an outcast—the man with leprosy. In a powerful sermon based on this gospel last Sunday, Pope Francis signaled his desire to push ahead with historic reforms, saying the Roman Catholic Church must be open and welcoming, . . .

The big covenant with Noah described in this Sunday’s reading from Leviticus is all-inclusive; humans as well as creatures of all kinds are included. A new White House strategy stressing education and inclusion is designed to counter the radicalization of young people by terrorist groups. . . .

Saint Paul’s efforts were focused not for “my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved,” he says in this Sunday’s second reading. President Barack Obama’s plan to shield more than 4 million undocumented immigrants from deportation and to save families from painful separations . . .

The psalmist turns to the Lord in time of trouble and is filled with the joy of salvation. There was no salvation for Ukrainian forces in trouble in the embattled town of Debaltseve, who chose a risky overnight breakout rather than surrender as they abandoned the town to Russian-backed militants. . . .

“Impunity continues to be one of the principal causes of violence in the countryside in Brazil.” --Cristiane Passos of the Brazilian Pastoral Land Commission, founded by the National Conf. of Brazilian Bishops to combat rural violence. They have documented 118 deaths in the state of Para since 2005, when Sister Dorothy Stang, S.N.D. was murdered because of her work in defense of landless peasants. 

There are more vacant houses than homeless people in the U.S.