Pope Francis is giving his blessing to a new Vatican think tank that is seeking to prevent the Mafia and organized crime groups from exploiting the image of the Virgin Mary for their own illicit ends.

As rural America becomes more diverse, it faces many of the problems associated with big cities, writes Nathan Beacom. The urban-rural divide in our politics does not reflect reality.

Not until the Democratic Party feels the pain of losing the Catholic vote will they reconsider their commitment to attacks on religious freedom, the defense of the natural family, support for Catholic schools and other Catholic priorities.

Readers of the daily email newsletter rank the issues important to them in the upcoming election.

Catholic homeschooling resources have historically offered a whitewashed, triumphalist account of history.

Join the editor in chief of America magazine for a conversation in the comments section on Friday, Sept. 18, 1 to 2 p.m. ET, about the magazine’s coverage of this historic election.