At least five deaths have been blamed on the strong-armed response to protests that were triggered by the government-stacked Supreme Court's decision three weeks ago to strip the opposition-controlled congress of its last remaining powers after a year-long power battle.

When the state becomes predatory, the defenders of the faith are called upon to point people in the right direction, away from the violence of the authorities and back to God.

We are seeing rum rehabilitated. Rum respected. A rum revolution. Or as connoisseurs like to call it, a rum renaissance.

The bishops wrote an eight-point communique on March 31, saying, "Venezuelans can't remain passive, be intimidated, or lose hope."

The ban’s proponents say mining practices posed a grave risk to the country’s already limited water supply.

The church hopes to produce more involvement in the church of its second largest and fastest growing community.