Bishop John H. Ricard, S.S.J., 71, of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., is retiring because of health concerns.

Bishop Andrew Francis of Multan said: “Bhatti is a man who gave his life for his crystalline faith in Jesus Christ."

For the past 60 years, St. Augustine High School in New Orleans has allowed the corporal punishment of students.

Shared concerns over violence among Mexico’s drug gangs were discussed by bishops from dioceses along the Texas-Mexico border.

Representative Peter King of New York convened controversial congressional hearings on March 10 to investigate “the extent of radicalization in the American Muslim community.”

Calls for the creation of a no-fly zone over Libya grew louder as civilians came under fire from forces loyal to the Libyan leader.

The announcement on March 8 represented an embarrassing turnaround for Cardinal Justin Rigali.

Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society of St. Pius X said that reconciliation talks would soon end with little change in the views of either side.

Church leaders around the world expressed their distress at the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s minister for minorities.

The Vatican has voiced concern over the loss of life in Libya, the targeting of peaceful protesters and “the indiscriminate use of force.”