Welcome to Friday. NCR's editorial staff says that Pope Francis should say more about just war theory. U.S. bishops weigh in on the debate over presidential candidates' abortion stance. Editorial: Thanks, Francis, but please say more about 'just war' It is rare to witness the Catholic Church fundamentally change one of its long-held teachings. It is, after all, an institution that still prohibits use of birth control and continues to ban women from serving in ordained ministry. All the more reason, then, to applaud Pope Francis for coming so close to tossing aside the just war theory. We hope Francis might turn now to elaborating that positive vision. He could certainly ask for help from groups like Pax Christi International, which has co-hosted two important Vatican conferences in recent years on developing a Catholic ethic of nonviolence and just peace. You can read the rest of our editorial here. Bishops' debate over 'preeminence' of abortion goes public With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, a number of U.S. bishops are weighing in, with some seeking to make the presidential election a referendum on candidates' stances on abortion, while others are arguing against single-issue voting. What began last year as a debate among the bishops over what emphasis to place on abortion in their official voting guide continues to spill out into public through a series of virtual conferences, newspaper columns and on social media. You can read the rest of the story here. More headlines At EarthBeat, at least a half dozen religious campaigns have honed in on climate change ahead of the election, and are mobilizing voters to keep the issue at the forefront. ICYMI: The Vatican and China have renewed their provisional 2018 deal over the appointment of Catholic bishops in the communist country for a further two years. ICYMI: Analysis of a clip in a new documentary in which Pope Francis expresses support for civil union laws for same-sex couples appears to indicate some of the pope's words came from an earlier interview. The bishop of Tyler, Texas, said in an hourlong webinar that "What's getting broadcast around the world is Pope Francis' opinion on this, and I think that is confusing and very dangerous." Final thoughts Last night was the final presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden. NCR political columnist Michael Sean Winters was watching and will have a column posted later today. Be on the lookout here. Also, NCR Forward members are regularly invited to members-only events. Next Thursday, NCR board member and composer Dan Schutte will be talking with our members about recognizing holiness just in time for All Saints Day. We are in the middle of our Fall Member Drive, so it's a great time to become a member to get an invitation to next week's and future events. Until Friday, Stephanie Yeagle NCR Production/Online Editor [email protected] Twitter: @ncrSLY Featured Advertisers October 24-26 - Join the virtual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. With 5000+ fellow Catholics, explore prophetic resilience at the intersection of faith and justice. The Rosary of Modern Sorrows: a thoughtful Peace & Justice gift for the warriors who pray for meaningful and progressive change. May your prayers lead to action!  Online certificate and master's programs. 50% tuition waivers given to faith-based leaders, church workers, and educators. A leader in global distance education for more than 10 years. Register today to attend Fairfield University’s free online Fall 2020 webinar lectures, sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies. Visit fairfield.edu/cs for details. Advertisement © National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company 800-444-8910 | [email protected] Was this email forwarded to you from a friend? Sign up to get NCR email newsletters sent to your inbox. National Catholic Reporter | 115 E Armour Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Our Privacy Policy | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today! View as Webpage