The family synod took "positive steps" to promote "the beauty of Church teachings on marriage", Archbishop Joseph Kurtz has said at the start of the US bishops' plenary meeting (full text, Michael O'Loughlin, Rocco Palmo, John Thavis). Same-sex marriage is a "Trojan horse" that weakens family life, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco has said at the opening of the Italian bishops' meeting in Assisi (Italian report). A Japanese feudal lord known as "the samurai of Christ" could be beatified next year. A "heartbreaking" New York Times video investigates the murder of four American Catholic women in El Salvador in 1980. John Paul Shimek says a Vatican conference next month could determine the outcome of next year's family synod. Mgr Charles Pope asks if you really know what the word "Gospel" means. And Abby Johnson names 10 things you should never say to a Catholic convert. Follow me on Twitter @lukecoppen for updates throughout the day.