Editor's note: Like the rest of the country, we at the National Catholic Reporter have been intensely focused on the run-up to the U.S. elections. The coronavirus pandemic, economic devastation and a political polarization that may even threaten the existence of our democracy have made it one of the most consequential elections in our lifetimes, if not in the history of the United States. But where do we — as a country and a church — go from here? We asked four of our columnists and one bishop to reflect on that question in essays that will run daily during election week. READ MORE

Renewed contact with the Gospel of faith, of hope and of love invites us to assume a creative and renewed spirit. In this way, we will be able to transform the roots of our physical, spiritual and social infirmities and the destructive practices that separate us from each other, threatening the human family and our planet. —Pope Francis READ MORE

Editor's Note: This weekend's Gospel reading will be Matthew 25:14-30 where we find the Parable of the Talents. This week's reflection comes from Tim Butler who is a counselor, life coach, and public speaker. Tim has an engaging style that mixes humor with truth and leaves the listener/reader thinking about life at a deeper level.

One of the topics that is near and dear to my heart is the notion of being faithful, more than being overwhelmed by success. Part of my passion on this topic is driven by what I feel God has revealed to me over the years through so many Bible verses that speak to that end. The other reason I am passionate about it is the increased focus on cultural lies that have been growing in our society over the last few decades. Namely:

Today our nation has spoken about the direction they wish to take in the years ahead. For the Covenant, our partners and supporters, the work begins anew to heal together and to work together to protect God’s creation. As Catholics, we have a covenant with God and with each other to do so. We acknowledge the loss of many in our country today to the pandemic, and we pray for those who mourn the loss of irreplaceable souls. We also pray for a smooth transition and for the new Administration. READ MORE

Most of us have a clear sense of right and wrong. But what happens when we view politics through a moral lens? This week, we talk with psychologist Linda Skitka about how moral certainty can produce moral blinders — and endanger democracy. Listen to Moral Combat

At 16, Reginald Dwayne Betts was sent to prison for nine years after pleading guilty to a carjacking, to having a gun, and to an attempted robbery.

“Because Senator Kamala Harris is a prosecutor and I am a felon, I have been following her political rise, with the same focus that my younger son tracks Steph Curry threes,” Mr. Betts said in an essay he wrote for The New York Times Magazine.

He had hoped that her presidential bid would be an opportunity for the country to grapple with the injustice of mass incarceration in a thoughtful way. Instead, he explained, the basic fact of her profession as a prosecutor was used by many as an indictment against her.

On today’s “Sunday Read,” listen to Mr. Betts’s exploration of his experiences with the criminal justice system, Kamala Harris and the conversations that America needs to have about mass incarceration.

This story was written and introduced by Reginald Dwayne Betts and recorded by Audm. Click here to listen.

And, to some Christians, either one of those labels may run counter to what they think a “Christian” should believe. This is the big problem of partisan Christianity. READ MORE