In Guatemala the arrests of 18 former military officials on charges of human rights violations were detailed on Jan. 6.

Supporting the president’s “modest” proposals, Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell wrote, they represent “first steps in correcting gun laws so weak that they are ludicrous.”

The president was most clearly moved when remembering the particularly horrific attack on the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Ct., in December 2012.

Papal visits to Cuba-the United States, South America and Africa were number 1 on the top ten church stories of 2015.

Sandra Bland's traffic stop became part of a national dialogue on race and police use of force

Father Curry had little choice but to soldier on, considering the many projects and accomplishments he had crowded into his life.

The primary objective of the settlement is to transform the culture of the archdiocese into one that is vigilant about preventing child abuse.

"Policies of fear and inflammatory rhetoric will only offer extremists fertile soil."

The outrage at Sandy Hook provoked yet another short-lived cry across the nation for greater restrictions on gun ownership. As in the past, gun lobbyists bided their time and turned to their congressional rolodexes.

Pope Francis’ plan to celebrate Mass at the border is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from both the U.S. and Mexico. The Catholic Extention release suggests it "will be a significant milestone of the trip’s itinerary."