Would I lie for my child if it would keep her out of prison? Would I flee with my kid to another country?

Parishes in areas of the St. Louis Archdiocese affected by flooding responded to people in need and made plans for a coordinated community response. "Keep us in your prayers," said Pam Manuel, parish secretary at St. Bridget of Kildare Parish in Pacific, 35 miles southwest of St. Louis.

The floods have caused damage collectively estimated to be around 5.8 billion pounds ($8.6 billion). Rain fell at record levels across northern England throughout December; Scotland and Northern Ireland also were affected. The worst-hit areas were in northwestern England, in counties covered by the Diocese of Lancaster.

Refugees making their way toward Europe and the United States are seeking a better, safer life, refugee advocates said. At the same time, many politicians and citizens have begun debating the country's moral and political responsibility when it comes to assisting those in need and defending the country's borders.

While retracing the events of 2015 may recall moments of both joy and sorrow, it also offers a moment to understand the presence of God who "renews and sustains with his help," Pope Francis said during an evening prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Eve.

Scholars like Joe are rare indeed, and the church needs more such women and men.

Protests and other forms of public pressure may be the only way to bring some measure of justice to victims of police violence.

Reflections on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

Rather than focus on any one topic, here are ten things I enjoyed this year that you might like for the year to come 2016 (in no particular order).

An interview with Jesuit philosopher Robert J. Spitzer, S.J.

This is the twenty-ninth entry in the Bible Junkies Online Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles This entry deals with Peter rsquo s missionary travels to Lydda and Joppa and his powerful encounter with Tabitha For previous entries please now go to the Complete Acts of the Apostle Commentary whe

Papal visits to Cuba-the United States, South America and Africa were number 1 on the top ten church stories of 2015.

No one can love us like family. No one can hurt us like family either.

Maybe the sadness that some of us feel at the holidays is not self-pity but invitation.

In his Christmas Message to the world Pope Francis issued a heartfelt appeal for peace in many of the world rsquo s conflict areas He called in particular for an end to the violence and hatred that is spreading in the Holy Land and elsewhere in the Middle East as well as in several African countr

The ancient Christian population of Bethlehem is fast disappearing. One of the few remaining Palestinian Christians explains what it feels like to celebrate Christmas there today.

Preparations are beginning to deport families fleeing violence in Central America. Here are some suggestions about how to respond.

Advent Reflections, Day 26: No gift is more precious than the freedom that Christ’s coming confers.

The Islamic State attacks in northern Iraq displaced more than 120,000 Christians, as well as minority Muslims and Yezidis. Today, many of those people live in Irbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.