“More than objects, they are human beings.” said Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

In his million-selling “How the Irish Saved Civilization,” Cahill cited Ireland's crucial—and unappreciated—preservation of classical texts after the fall of the Roman Empire.

New data offers insight into the beliefs of U.S. Catholics ahead of the midterm elections, with differences among white and Hispanic Catholics .

“The quality of homilies is almost unanimously reported as a problem.”

Under the agreement, filed Oct. 25 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the diocese is required to implement enhanced child protection measures.

Many dioceses are still without bishops or have very elderly bishops, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, but the process is continuing.