A Philadelphia judge dismissed three of eight murder charges on April 23 in the trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia abortionist accused of killing infants who had been born alive at his abortion clinic. Gosnell was arrested in January 2011 and charged with seven counts of infanticide and one

“The whole country is in shock," a spokesman for the country's bishops said.

The peace advocate Immaculée Ilibagiza became an American citizen on April 17.

The Assumption Catholic Parish is one of the largest church communities in West, Tex.

For nearly two decades the people of the Congo have known nothing but conflict.

"We must forgive and fight for union to prevail over division," the bishops said.