"We need only one good person to have hope! And each of us can be that person!"

People without homes in Leavenworth, Kansas, now have a shelter, laundry facility, showers, and transportation to essential services thanks to the combined efforts of more than 30 local churches. Taking the lead on that effort is Sr. Vickie Perkins.

I have always been passionate about the social teachings of the church, and in my studies I had the opportunity to explore documents that raised my awareness of justice issues and see how the church encourages her missionaries to address them in light of Gospel values. 

"Perhaps some of the stepping stones form circles of unity on which we stand together."

As a white person, what happens when you make the conscious decision to stare racism in the face, to wake up? What happens when you make a commitment to be vocal and call out racism when you see it? As a white woman, heading an agency that has made a commitment to rout out racism, I am learning the consequences, personally and institutionally, of these two actions.

GSR Today - The Sarasota Herald-Tribune took on a massive research project of the Florida justice system. "No news organization, university or government agency has ever done such a comprehensive study of sentences handed down by individual judges on a statewide scale." Here is a sample of what reporters found — and why we all should care.

Members of the Asian movement of religious against human trafficking comprise about 200 nuns from 63 congregations working in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The group was founded in 2009 and is now linked with the Talitha Kum international network of consecrated life against human trafficking. They work to educate villagers and school children about the crime, organize vigilance groups and rescue girls from traffickers.

"What storms approach? Can we believe in Christ we are not alone?"

Rep. Ryan, I am heartened that you value Pope Francis' call to dialogue. I also hope that if and when you read this letter, it will be received in the spirit with which it is intended — namely, dialogue.