Franciscan Father Michael Perry of the United States (left) was elected June 5 as vicar general of the Order of Friars Minor.

The Child and Youth Well-Being Index shows that the quality of life for children has dropped significantly since its peak in 2000.

Five texts being prepared for use in English-speaking countries failed to get the necessary two-thirds votes of the Latin-rite U.S. bishops.

The Vaticans spokesman, Federico Lombardi, S.J., said that the speech on June 4 brought an element of hope to the world.

Vatican officials met with the foreign minister to discuss ideas that came out of the Saudi-sponsored World Conference of Dialogue in Spain.

A British court ruled on June 1 that the social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Leeds, England, could not continue as an adoption agency unless it assessed same-sex couples as potential adopters and foster parents. • Even with a proposed amendment to include public institutions, a Ne