The Vatican said the recent election of new church leaders by government-controlled Catholic groups in China have "unilaterally damaged" hopes of improved relations.

Infringements on the freedom of religion threaten peace worldwide as well as stifle authentic human development, the pope said.

The decrease in the number of Catholics in the House of Representatives will not be as great as expected because of the election of 33 new Catholic Republicans.

The Pax Christi International Peace Award for 2010 was given on Dec. 8 to Louis Sako,the Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk, Iraq.

The Senate's inability to overcome a threatened filibuster Dec. 18 scuttled passage of the DREAM Act.

For the first time in years, shop owners and tourist industry workers in the birthplace of Christ are optimistic and have confidence in the economy. For most, 2010 was the best year for business in a decade