Morning Briefing

Is the Catholic Church drawing a line in the sand with the Trump administration? Is immigration and refugees the issue that will cause a split?

• Chicago to sue Trump administration over sanctuary city funding threat
• Newsweek asks, "Is the Catholic Church turning on Trump? U.S. bishops slam immigration proposals as 'discriminatory.'
• Time says President Trump's Evangelical Advisers Seek to Tamp Down Vatican Criticism
• Trump's travel ban keeps orphan kids from U.S. foster families

The Philippines has seen a recent increase in reported and publicly know cases of Catholic clergy sexually abusing minors. This raises the question: How do the Philippine Catholic bishops investigate clergy abuse? Would you believe that they use a marriage tribunal?

Lay Catholics and women religious in India have been pushing their bishops for more transparency in abuse cases. Two recent NCR stories:

• From May 1 -- Indian Catholics frustrated over clergy sex abuse cases
• From July 10 -- Secrecy over clergy abuse standards causes confusion in India

Michael Sean Winters says No litmus test on abortion: a good sign for Democrats

This is what NCR said in an editorial in April: Abortion fundamentalism overwhelms Democrats

Coadjutor bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung will become the new head of the Catholic diocese in Hong Kong after Pope Francis approved the retirement of Cardinal John Tong Hon a day after he turned 78.

ICYMI: Has it been a while since you've visited NCRonline.org? Things look a little different? Here's the inside scoop: We've refreshed the NCR website.

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.