Human rights activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo are denouncing acts of violence by police against Catholic parishes and marchers.

Support for a religious exemption to the contraceptive mandate in the U.S. health reform plan is stronger among Catholics than among the general population.

María del Mar Muñoz-Visoso was named executive director of the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church.

“The economy is still leaving too many people without work,” wrote Bishop Stephen E. Blaire in a letter to Congress.

“We have seen escalating violence, brutal crackdowns and tremendous suffering by the Syrian people,” said U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Vatican officials dismissed as baseless the accusations of “corruption and abuse of power” made by the archbishop who is now apostolic nuncio to the United States.