The psalmist promises this Sunday that God will “restore all in need,” as Alice Camille puts it in "Exploring the word." Pope Francis made it clear Tuesday that he wishes those who have had an abortion “and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness” to be restored . . .

The reading from the Book of Isaiah this Sunday encourages “those whose hearts are frightened” to “be strong, fear not!” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages all adults to strive for healthy hearts by paying attention to their “heart age.” . . .

The Letter of James this Sunday encourages us to ”show no partiality” but rather to treat all with respect. Lawmakers have struggled to analyze the Iran nuclear deal impartially, but this week Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland became the crucial 34th vote in favor of the deal . . .

One of Jesus’ many healing miracles is front and center in this Sunday’s gospel. In the age of vaccines many once deadly diseases have been tamed. Unexpectedly, however, two children in southwestern Ukraine  have been paralyzed . . .

“Continue; what you do (for the downtrodden) is good.”

45 percent of U.S. adults are “Catholic-connected,” according to an innovative look at the spectrum of American Catholicism.