The leaders of the Conference of Religious Leaders in France, representing Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Buddhist communities, issued a June 30 joint statement appealing for peace, harmony and fraternity amid violent protests that have engulfed the country.

Christians are called to be modern-day prophets who guide others to see the Holy Spirit at work in everyday life and not to be superstitious people who try to predict or control the future, Pope Francis said.

Meant as a consolation, the words “thoughts and prayers” are often seen as a senseless murmur offered in place of greatly needed societal change.

When it comes to introducing children to history, you are not just dealing with facts and trivia; you’re introducing young minds to the reality of the human condition — that celebrating the greatest of human achievements is good, but that we must acknowledge and recognize the worst of human behavior.

Was I wearing a crucifix? Had a rosary slipped out of my purse? Then I realized she was looking at the reusable grocery bags I had brought along.