Where do you draw the line—the “mercy line?” The mercy line marks the point beyond which, in your view, mercy should NOT be offered to a person: If you do such-and-such a thing—if you cross this particular line in your behavior—you should not be offered any mercy by God. None whatsoever! Justice—yes; vengeance—perhaps; but mercy—no.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It began when a report about abused and neglected children caught the attention of President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Sadly, since that first Child Abuse Prevention Month, the number of abused victims has grown from half a million children to over six million new reports of abuse along with 1600 child abuse related deaths annually. One is too many. Each year, Blue Sunday Abuse Prevention offers a day of prayer on the last Sunday of April. Learn more... (Image courtesy of bluesunday.org)

Origin of Divine Mercy Sunday, the Divine Mercy image, the Chaplet, and the Novena (Photo: Rick Snizek)

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor - PROVIDENCE — The Most Reverend Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Bishop-Designate of Providence, spoke glowingly of Pope Francis on the day of his appointment, April 8, which when paired with the simultaneous naming of Bishop W. Shawn McKnight as archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, represents Pope Francis’ last American appointment.