Peace is not simply a gift to be received from God, the pope said; it is a task people of good will must undertake.

The administration it exploribng the wording of a religious exemption to a mandate that future health plans must cover contraceptives and sterilizations.

November unemployment numbers released on Dec. 2 indicated a decrease in joblessness from 9 percent to 8.6 percent.

In every region of the country, death sentences have declined, which eventually will affect the number of executions.

"For millions of American workers and their families, economic hardship continues and grows," said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif.

The disputed report claims that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spent $26.6 million in 2009 on advocacy and outreach.