Persistent critics have weakened the church's anti-poverty program, the report says.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi is refusing to comment on a quot private meeting quot but Pope Francis is being quoted by a number of European media outlets including AFP Agence France Presse as confirming the existence of a quot gay lobby quot inside the Vatican that he suggests may be

The heads of the national conferences of bishops from the nations participating in the upcoming G8 summit have sent a joint letter to the leaders of G8 nations commenting on the issues they would like to see emphasized at the summit Citing recent comments from good Pope Francis on making a special

With the nation still reeling over the revelations of infanticide and assorted grotesqueries that emerged during the trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia last month and bucking a national trend of legislative encroachments against broad abortion rights New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

Some items to note today at America nbsp Pope Francis on Pope John XXIII 39 Faith Leads to Interior Peace 39 nbsp The life of Blessed John XXIII is a lesson in how obedience and trust in God lead to an interior peace that is naturally recognized by and shared with others Pope Francis said nb

Over three-quarters of Americans 77 percent say religion is losing its influence on American life according to a new Gallup survey Researchers described that result as the quot most negative evaluation of the impact of religion since 1970 quot although it continues a trend of a public perce

Human pastoral quote machine Pope Francis was at it again today in Rome prying open doors and trying to let more people in Today 39 s mildly rebuked pharisees are the self-appointed pastoral border guards who hold up a hand in consternation instead of offering one in welcome when the less-than-pe

In a forceful speech at the National Defense University today President Barack Obama sought to interrupt the possibility of an America trapped in a ldquo perpetual war rdquo footing in its struggle against homegrown and international terrorism Calling for a comprehensive anti-terror strategy tha

Speaking on behalf of the U S Conference of Catholic Bishops nbsp the chairman of the USCCB 39 s Committee on International Justice and Peace said nbsp the Obama administration 39 s policy of targeted killings by drones raise ldquo serious moral questions rdquo including concerns related to d

Almost two years after its Advent 2011 introduction the new Missal is still generating unhappiness among U S Catholic priests according to a new survey which found quot widespread skepticism quot about the litrugy revisions According to the study 59 percent of the 1 500 priests surveyed quot