Morning Briefing

And on another pro-life issue, Global Sisters Report national correspondent Dan Stockman interviews Adrian Dominican Sr. Judy Byron, who as coordinator of the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, filed and saw passed a shareholders' resolution requiring gun manufacturer Sturm Ruger to report on its efforts to improve gun safety.

NCR Editorial: Nations could stop Yemen's deadly crisis -- but won't

Don't miss the NCR Justice Action Bulletin: Anti-nuke protests on Memorial Day and Plowshares update

On July 29, 1968, Pope Paul VI published his encyclical on the regulation of birth, Humanae Vitae. Now approaching its golden jubilee, the encyclical was published at a time of twofold crisis, one theological, the other cultural. NCR is publishing a multipart series to map the influence of Humanae Vitae, the impact this teaching on birth control has had in the Catholic community and where it might be pointing us in the future. We've published two essays so far:

• The end of the affair? 'Humanae Vitae' at 50 by Michael G. Lawler and Todd A. Salzman
• Overwriting tradition: 'Humanae Vitae' replaced real church teaching by Joseph Selling

Look for more essays in this series we call " 'Humanae Vitae': The maturing of church teaching" until the end of July.

Melbourne, Australia -- The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse had recommended that a national redress plan be established from which survivors of abuse could seek compensation. All states and territories, except Western Australia, have signed up to the plan. Now the Catholic church says it will join. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia, wrote to the Government saying they were keen to participate "to limit future trauma for survivors of abuse in obtaining redress from the Church."

The First Step Act, aimed at reducing the number of people who return to prison after serving time, overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week with not only bipartisan support from lawmakers, but also the support of a number of prominent evangelical Christians and institutions. Read here How evangelicals teamed up with the White House on prison reform.

Have you been inspired by Pope Francis' exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate ("Rejoice and Be Glad")? To join the journey of 'small holiness', NCR and Celebration have the resources to help:

• 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.

After a volunteer stint at a Catholic Worker House, a social services professional wonders Is it time for voluntary poverty?

Sisters teach Catholicism from Jewish perspective in heart of Jerusalem The story of the Ecce Homo Centre for Biblical Formation and the Notre Dame de Sion sisters who run it.

Other news we are following:

• As hurricane season begins this week, experts are still trying to count the number of deaths caused by last year's devastating Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's Hurricane Maria Death Toll Could Exceed 4,000, New Study Estimates
• Israel and Palestinians trade fire on Gaza border amid cease-fire talk
• Russia's opposition journalist Arkady Babchenko shot dead in Kiev (see item below)

​​The Associated Press is now reporting that the head of the Ukrainian Security Service told a news conference today (May 30) that the agency faked Babchenko’s death to catch those who were trying to kill him. See: Ukraine alleges Russia paid $40K for death plot.