Morning Briefing

Dennis Coday | Jan. 31, 2013 NCR Today

New Delhi, India -- Catholics pledge to fight crimes against women [1]

U.S. bishops say they’re willing to ‘go to jail’ over HHS mandate [2]

Opinion: Catholic Church tests its reach in health care debate [3] by Mary Sanchez

Obama to tread carefully in immigration debate [4]

The transgender Catholic school teacher: Keeping the faith while gender notions evolve [5]

Highly Recommended: Cabinet Picks Show A Shift In How U.S. Wages War [6] Legal experts say it's also a shift from clear, public rules to murky, secret ones.

'Mali militants in disarray' after French air strikes [7]. Doesn't this resemble headlines from early days in Afghnanistan and Iraq?

Newtown to Conn. lawmakers: 'Show America the way' on gun control [8]

Rochester, N.Y. -- Dicoese seeks $3.5 million to top off $14 million endowment [9] to fund seminary education and priests' retirement.

Worcester. Mass. -- Bishop rescinds speaker's invite to address Catholic Men’s Conference [10]. Speaker is author of the books: “Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs,” “The Truth About Muhammad,” and “Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics.”

Australia: CATHOLIC hospitals fear patients will use new anti-discrimination laws to demand abortions, vasectomies and IVF treatments now banned for religious reasons. [11]

London, England -- Meet Jayne Kemp who left her Catholic roots after 'falling in love' with Islam [12]. A police community support officer, she helps victims of so-called honor vioilence.

On gay marriage, French Cathoilic bishops are neither 'oui' nor 'non' [13]

Canada -- Catholic bihsops, United Church disagree on same-sex marriage, but find common ground on marriage in in their theologies, liturgies and pastoral approaches. [14]

[15]Looking for an a little inspiration to begin your day? NCR's sister publication, Celebration, gives you two options, both based on the Scripture readings of the day:

Pencil Preaching [15] is blog that Celebration editor Pat Marrin combines scripture and sketching to reflect on the word.

Daily Bread [16] is a series short reflections, written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings. Daily Bread is intended to help daily preachers and others who pray from the assigned scriptures each day to orient themselves to the Living Word addressed to the church in the world. It's a great way to begin the day.