World News
Guatemalan bishops call for president to resign
President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala refused to step down despite corruption charges. His persistence has inflamed protests while businesses have closed.
Brand new ballgame: 72 men start lives as seminarians in Rome
Seventy two young men recently entered the Pontifical North American seminary in Rome, where they are expected set aside secular values and dedicate themselves in serving the poor and oppressed. .
Plight of Christians fleeing Iraq shakes archbishop’s faith
A Chaldean Catholic leader in Iraq inwardly quarrels with God over the flight of 100,000 Christians and others. Still, the archbishop sees providence working among the people.
Pope sits in the pew at daily Mass in Rome
The priest celebrant, surprised by Pope Francis sitting in the front pew, praised "the sensitivity of a man who was placed at the service of the entire church, but who wants to walk with all the faithful."
Popemobile shipped to U.S. ahead of pope’s arrival
A converted Jeep Wrangler or two have landed in the U.S. from the Vatican, ready to bring Pope Francis to the throngs in Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
Eastern Europe’s church sees little justice for communist misdeeds
Few living witnesses and lack of a paper trail have kept justice at bay for those who suffered under former communist regimes.
Reputed mafia don’s extravagant funeral raises questions in Rome
When the hearse arrived at a parish church, a band outside played the theme song from the film "The Godfather." The pastor deemed that by canon law, he "could not refuse to celebrate the funeral."
Theologians eye ways to draw in divorced, remarried Catholics
One path may be a "penitential process" that gradually would lead some divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to confession, absolution and Communion.
Some say exchange of shots at border not big news in South Korea
Some South Koreans seem blase about occasional firefights across border with North Korea.
Few Catholic voices raised against massive same-sex wedding in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Catholics have been quite outspoken against same-sex marriage, but their voices were not as strong during or after a massive outdoor same-sex wedding ceremony supported by government.