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So as most of the country slept, congressional leaders put together early this morning, as I understand it, a two-year bipartisan budget deal that has to be reexamined by March 23. Despite a Congress dominated by "fiscal hawks," it adds $320 billion to the federal budget deficit. The Children's Health Insurance Program, aka, CHIP, is saved and Puerto Rico gets disaster aid, but people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program just got more promises. Read about this here:
Later this morning, NCR Vatican correspondent Joshua J. McElwee will join Christopher Lamb of The Tablet on Facebook Live to talk about Pope Francis' handling of clerical sexual abuse, a future canonization of Paul VI and Catholic journalism. Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. CST, details here.
The American Catholic Church lost a prophet and pioneer this week: Sr. Louise Akers, remembered for her stand against inequality, dies at age 75
Here are the two most-read stories on our website this week:
- Deporting DACA students not in public interest, say Jesuit education deans
- Pilgrim pope: Benedict says he's journeying toward God
Rohingya crisis: Reuters journalists held 'for investigating Myanmar killings.' Warning, this report contains photographs that some readers may find distressing.
Amoris Laetitia — Part 1: Michael Sean Winters examines George Weigel's examination of the pope's document on family and marriage.
Amoris Laetitia — Part 2: Something is coming to the NCR website about 10 a.m. central time today that I cannot reveal now. Pay us a visit again later this morning.
Rifts apparent among senior Catholic churchmen over bishop appointments: Vatican's China policy questioned by Hong Kong cardinal
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The bishops of Australia are calling Catholics to use the first four days of Lent (Feb. 14-17) as days of fasting and reparation in sorrow for child sexual abuse and for the healing of victims and survivors.
Greenwich, Connecticut — Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport has voiced his support for Sacred Heart Greenwich’s decision to tell a student she cannot return to the school next year if she keeps a Planned Parenthood sticker on her laptop.
Maltese Arcbhishop Charles Scicluna will be flying to New York to meet Juan Carlos Cruz, a survivor of Chile’s most notorious pedophile priest. Vatican to interview Chile victim in person
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.
