Copy Desk Daily, Sept. 8, 2020

Recommended for you today, from the National Catholic Reporter / Global Sisters Report / EarthBeat copy desk:

The pandemic has brought many challenges, but her colleagues and advocates in the trenches on the issue of homelessness say Mercy Sr. Mary Scullion is indefatigable and has the political savvy to turn a setback into a win. Certainly, the results speak for themselves: What began as a city emergency shelter more than 30 years ago has grown into a respected organization in Philadelphia that operates 900 housing units and runs job and educational projects as well as a neighborhood wellness and health center. The full story by GSR New York and international correspondent Chris Herlinger is here.

On EarthBeat: Nigeria has seen a rising, deadly conflict between farmers and cattle herders, who migrate south to land for grazing. Climate change has worsened the conflict. Thousands have been killed or displaced. Read about how the pandemic has been making the situation worse.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, has endorsed a video that includes anti-immigrant remarks and homophobic slurs by a priest of Wisconsin in which the priest claims, "You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat." Read more from NCR national correspondent Christopher White.

Pope Francis will travel to Assisi Oct. 3 to sign an encyclical on the social, political and economic obligations that flow from a belief that all people are children of God and therefore brothers and sisters to one another. Read more.

"If we are consistent in our defense of human life, we cannot be a comfortable Democrat or Republican. The consistent ethic embraces many complex issues in a slow-moving political system where Catholics do not have the last word." Read this commentary by Steven P. Millies.

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