In an important move, Pope Francis has issued a decree, published “motu proprio” (on his own initiative), in which he has modified the internal structure of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

At a time when our world contends with so many difficult issues, to see Hollywood imagining young people as our saviors raises serious questions.

CatholicVote, an independent political advocacy group, has filed a lawsuit seeking information about how the government and church-affiliated groups have gone about “facilitating a record surge in illegal immigration.”

Although Benedict expresses regret that abuse happened on his watch, he does not take responsibility for any specific cases, and his lawyers maintain his innocence.

The main body of protesters continued a diesel-rumbling siege of Parliament Hill, igniting fire pits on city streets and sounding truck horns at all hours, driving local residents to despair.

“Life is a right, not death, which must be welcomed, not administered,” Pope Francis said during his weekly audience. “And this ethical principle applies to, concerns everyone, not just Christians or believers.”

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has written a “mea culpa” in which he asks forgiveness for “the abuses and the errors” that occurred when he held different positions of great responsibility in the church.

“That’s one of the reasons why I didn’t go to live in the papal apartment, because the popes before me were saints and I couldn’t do it—I’m not so much a saint,” the pope said on Feb. 6 during a primetime Italian talk show.

Recovering the history of black Catholics is an important challenge for all black Americans and for their churches.