“The rationale for our initiative has been severely distorted by some special-interest groups,” Kevin Cook said.

Giving to the 400 largest charities in the United States was down 11 percent overall in 2009.

A bullet fragment was found in an office belonging to Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga.

Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem marked a milestone on Oct. 18 with the birth of its 50,000th baby since 1990.

“The people of the South are beating day and night the drum of secession, independence,” said Bishop Paride Taban, retired bishop of Torit.

“Few of the suburban communities have a social services infrastructure in place to address the challenges this increased poverty poses.”