For everything that I thought I knew, I knew that Thomas Merton had something to teach me. And despite everything he said that went over my head, what I did comprehend spoke to my heart. It spoke of a God who knew me, who wanted me to be my true self, and who was already working within me. As I grew, Merton came with me; he gave me language for the journey I was on, and as the inklings of a religious vocation stirred within me, he was there as a companion, an old friend on the way.       

GSR Today - The Dominican Sisters of Hope in Ossining, N.Y., are taking a victory lap for leading the charge to get their town to allow backyard beekeeping. The high-profile case brings attention to the sisters’ life work on behalf of the environment. They are strong and vocal advocates for “going green” in the workplace, energy efficient cars, recycling and growing your own food.

More than 100 religious leaders and activists were arrested July 31 in a White House protest aimed at halting deportations and aiding immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The direct action sponsored by Church World Service and Casa de Maryland, an immigration advocacy group, brought leaders from New England to Hawaii to the nation’s capital, including Sister of Mercy Eileen Campbell.

A Catholic sister has added her voice to those protesting Detroit’s aggressive campaign to shut off water to thousands of households in arrears on their water bills. For Sister of Mercy Mary Ellen Howard, the fight here is elemental. “Water is life,” she said, “when you shut off water, you shut off life.” Howard, a Detroit native, was one of 10 religious leaders and community activists arrested July 10 while blockading the entrance to Homrich Wrecking Inc., a private company contracted by the city to do residential shut-offs.

GSR Today - The United Nations marked the first World Day Against Trafficking in Persons July 30 "to raise awareness of this issue among the general public, policy-makers and civil society. The World Day provides an opportunity for the world to act to end this crime and show solidarity with its victims."

St. Joseph Hospital, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition in Jerusalem, is treating wounded Gaza residents. Sr. Muna Totah said the nuns' presence helps the patients and their families face their challenges, regardless of their religion. "They know we are here to keep them and care for them," she said. "They call us angels and feel our love."

Current church teachings on women's roles; human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; and birth control are, to my mind, obvious examples of decisions made without sufficient consultation with the faithful. While carefully distinguishing between public opinion and the "sense of the faithful," the statement nevertheless values the role of public opinion and lists helpful criteria for Catholics to evaluate the important dispositions needed to participate in the sensus fidei.

Sr. Kathleen Erickson first went to serve on the United States’ southern border with Mexico in 1991. She served there 18 years and recently, she’s been speaking out on the root causes of the immigration crisis. Most of the children are coming from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Erickson was an international observer of the Honduran elections last November and spent five weeks in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, earlier this summer.

Three stats and a map - Most climate scientists agree that the time to find clean and renewable sources of energy is now. And although officials from Accra to Ontario are moving toward solar power, there are still questions about clean energy best practices.

Sr. Julie George believes God has called her to seek justice on behalf of women. A human rights lawyer and a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in India, she is director of Streevani, a women’s empowerment organization. She said, "Many women would never have reached the court without our help."