Morning Briefing

DUBLIN, Ireland — An international conference celebrating Roman Catholicism opened Sunday in Ireland against a backdrop of anger over child abuse coverups and evidence of declining faith in core church beliefs.

CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian bishop who ruffled the Vatican’s feathers by calling for reform says his decision to retire early is his alone and is unrelated to his differences with Catholic Church leaders. Pope Benedict XVI last week accepted Bishop Patrick Power’s resignation five years before the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Press Release: Catholic Diocese of Orange Announces Cathedral Name: the former Crystal Cathedral becomes ... Christ Cathedral

NCR's sister publication, Celebration, posts reflections on each day's Scripture reading. Here's a link: celebrationpublications.org/dailybread. You may want to bookmark it. It's a great way to begin the day.