Our elected officials are failing us, elevating artful pandering and dishonesty over real solutions, writes Marty Meehan in an essay adapted from his speech to a Vatican conference on the media.

If we are to differ intelligently and temperately, we must first share a great deal in common. Today, though, claims and counter-claims are made as if they were vindicated by the mere vehemence of their assertion.

This is a 21st-century problem, but we were first warned about it in the 18th century. Our founding fathers called what we are experiencing today factionalism.

“Every Cuban should be able to freely and respectfully express and share his personal opinions, his thoughts or his convictions, even when he disagrees with the majority,” the bishops said.

For the last 17 years, Senator Durbin has been unable to receive Communion in his home diocese in Springfield, Ill.

In his tenure as new executive director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, Jose Aguto looks to inspire other Catholics to enact climate action to be better stewards of the earth and its most vulnerable people.