Check out these recent articles from around the web:

The sinner pope by Patrick L. Gilger: “This is the reason Pope Francis calls himself a sinner. It is the reason he speaks so relentlessly about mercy. It is because he knows what all women and men who live deeply an Ignatian life know, that God’s mercy reframes our interpretation of everything, institutions included.”

Pope Francis’ “Mere Christianity” by Jason King: “What is the Pope doing?  Francis seems to be addressing not a left-right problem but an inside-outside one. Our church is afflicted by groups—and they can be from the right, middle, or left—that use one aspect of the gospel as a shibboleth to distinguish the inner circle from the outer, the righteous from sinners, and the justified from the damned.  Pope Francis seems concerned with bridging these divisions (the pope is supposed to be the pontifex maximus, the ultimate bridge-builder, after all) by focusing on the faith behind all of them.”

Catholic school takes silent stand for workers’ rights by Adam Tamburin, The Tennessean: “Purple-and-white patches showing the Jerusalem cross have been sewn onto the players’ jerseys and pants, covering logos for the apparel companies that made them. Administrators say the patches will keep students from advertising apparel companies with “abhorrent labor practices.” The school is adding patches to every branded athletic uniform issued this academic year.”

Working at Mercy by Kerry Weber: “The answer, perhaps, can be found in a wonderfully invented word from Pope Francis: mercy-ing. In turning the noun into a verb, a sentiment into an action, Francis calls us not only to have mercy or to show mercy, but to embody mercy. The word emphasizes the active element of mercy, as a force that binds us, compels us, and enables us to love one another more fully.”

Millions of Poor Are Left Uncovered by Health Law by NY Times: “A sweeping national effort to extend health coverage to millions of Americans will leave out two-thirds of the poor blacks and single mothers and more than half of the low-wage workers who do not have insurance, the very kinds of people that the program was intended to help, according to an analysis of census data by The New York Times.”

Bishop Stephen Blaire, Archbishop Jose Gomez, and Bishop Richard Pates: “Throughout the world, millions rely on the United States for lifesaving food, medicine, and support. In Syria, violence seriously threatens the lives of two million refugees and four million internally displaced persons, half of them children . Over five million receive HIV/AIDS medication as a result of PEPFAR, and thousands of children receive vaccinations . This work must continue, and human needs must be met.”

Pope concelebrates Mass with Council of Cardinals by Vatican Radio: “The Church, Benedict XVI told us, does not grow through proselytism, it grows through attraction, through witness. And when the people see this witness of humility, of meekness, of mildness, they feel the need that the Prophet Zachariah spoke of: ‘We want to come with you.’ The people feel that need in the face of the witness of charity, of this humble charity, without bullying, not sufficient, humble. Worship and serve!” (Pope Francis)

Pope Francis in Assisi via Father B. Jerabek: “Today (the Church) must strip away a most grave danger, which threatens each person in the Church, everyone: the danger of worldliness. The Christian cannot coexist with the spirit of the world. Worldliness leads us to vanity, to arrogance, to pride. And this is an idol, it is not God. It is an idol! And idolatry is the gravest sin!”

GOP House can’t claim to speak for America by Thomas Mann: “The ACA is law. End of story. The House Republicans’ attempt to nullify a duly-enacted law violates the norms of our constitutional system. It is reckless economically and an egregious affront to our democratic form of government. House Republicans have every right to press their views in Congress but not to threaten to blow up the U.S. and global economy by shutting down the government and threatening public default…Blackmail, extortion, hostage-taking and brinksmanship are the tools of terrorists, not legislators.”

About 15% of Americans live in poverty, so why is no one talking about it? by Daniel Medina: “The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism found that out of 52 mainstream media outlets analysed, coverage of poverty amounted to less than 1% of available news space from 2007 to 2012. It’s even more astonishing considering that period covered a historic recession.”

President Obama is a fan of Pope Francis by NBC News: “‘He’s also someone who is first and foremost thinking about how to embrace people as opposed to push them away,’ Obama continued. ‘For any religious leader, that’s a quality I admire.’”