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We bring this week's series on clergy sex abuse to a close with this essay by NCR editor at large Tom Roberts: The clergy's task is unfinished in confronting sex abuse There has been a psychic numbness at the heart of clerical culture that has enabled it to keep the most unsettling truths of the scandal at bay.
To recap the series, here are the stories we've run:
- Monday: Sr. Sally Bulter finds that faith sustains when institutions fail
- Tuesday: 'Uncommon conversation' on sex abuse falls silent
- Wednesday: 'All of us together': Sex abuse survivor seeks healing within the church
- Thursday: Convicted soul: A priest-perpetrator of child sexual abuse shares his story
- What's this series all about? Here's my introduction to these pieces: "The stories will make some people uncomfortable and others angry. It will be difficult reading, but my hope — my belief — is that it will make us confront a profound question about clergy sex abuse and the Catholic Church, namely, how do we as church, as a community of believers, bring healing to our wounded body?"
The Republicans, supposedly, have been planning the repeal of Obamacare for seven years. How can they not have a plan?
- CNN Poll: 35% of US public say "Abandon repeal plans. 77% say "Try this as a bipartisan bill." Nobody seems to know what the heck is happening on health care (video and text.)
- Senate Leaders Press for Health Care Vote, but on Which Bill?
- Possible good news? Trump Plan Might Cut Expenses For Some Insured Patients With Chronic Needs
- Health care prescription? Regroup, cooperate, Catholic health leaders say
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to Shutter State Department War Crimes Office
These articles were not planned as a series, but I couldn't ignore the coincidence. Call this series "Sisters on the barricades":
- Manila, Philippines -- Amid anti-drug war, Sr. Nenet Daño shepherds drug users, pushers
- Columbia, Pennsylvania -- Adorers of the Blood of Christ resist pipeline plans and Adorers of the Blood of Christ take pipeline protest to court
- Caracas, Venezuela -- Armed with the rosary, sisters join Venezuela protests
Charlotte, North Carolina -- Church to celebrate life of Catholic priest who found peace as a transgender woman Nancy Ledins, who began life in 1932 as William Griglak, became a Roman Catholic priest in 1959 and underwent a sex-change operation in 1979, died last week.
Newe Brighton, Minn. -- Minnesota writer helps incarcerated women pen stories of hurt, hope
And last of all -- file this under you can't make this up: A group that believes there is an ancient and little-known connection between Christianity and cannabis plans to burn oil full of psychoactive cannabinoids inside The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the nation's largest Roman Catholic church, during the solar eclipse on August 21.
Start your day inspired with daily scripture reflections. Join NCR's sister publication, Celebration, for Daily Bread, a series of short reflections written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings.
Or reflect on 
Pencil Preaching by Pat Marrin. Every morning Pat Marrin breaks open the Word with a pencil sketch and a short meditation.