via CNN: House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday he accepts the decision by the Rev. Pat Conroy, the House chaplain, to rescind his resignation, following a week’s worth of lawmakers from both parties questioning Ryan’s request that Conroy step down. “I have accepted Father Conroy’s letter and decided that he will remain in his position… Read More Paul Ryan Backs Down, Fr. Conroy Will Remain House Chaplain

via NY Times: The chaplain of the House of Representatives, who was recently forced to resign by Speaker Paul D. Ryan, said Thursday that he is rescinding his decision — in effect forcing Mr. Ryan to try to fire him. Father Patrick J. Conroy, a Catholic priest who has been the chaplain since 2011, wrote… Read More Fr. Conroy Rescinds Resignation, Setting Up Showdown with Paul Ryan

Here are six quotes from Pope Francis on saints and sainthood in Gaudete et Exsultate: [The Lord] wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence. (1) In times when women tended to be most ignored or overlooked, the Holy Spirit raised up saints whose attractiveness produced new spiritual… Read More 6 Quotes from Pope Francis on Saints

At Loyola University Chicago, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego delivered the second Cardinal Bernardin lecture. Heidi Schlumpf reports: McElroy called the current polarization “heartbreaking,” contrasting it to Pope Francis’ “beautiful vision of politics” in his 2015 address to Congress. “Party” has become shorthand for worldview, he said, and party identity leads to a “cafeteria… Read More Bishop McElroy: Catholic Teaching Has Been Hijacked by Partisans

The Hill reports: House Chaplain Patrick Conroy’s sudden resignation has sparked a furor on Capitol Hill, with sources in both parties saying he was pushed out by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Conroy’s own resignation announcement stated that it was done at Ryan’s request… Four different sources — two from each party — say Conroy was… Read More Paul Ryan Forces Out Catholic Priest as House Chaplain

Last Men in Aleppo director Feras Fayyad explains how Russia has launched a smear campaign against the Syria Civil Defense (the White Helmets):

via Reuters: The U.S. government is conducting an intensive examination of alleged atrocities against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, documenting accusations of murder, rape, beatings and other possible offenses in an investigation that could be used to prosecute Myanmar’s military for crimes against humanity, U.S. officials told Reuters. The undertaking, led by the State Department, has involved… Read More US Investigating Atrocities against Rohingya