The tense conditions have left people barricaded in their homes in the capital, Bangui.

Pope Francis is "a prophet who sees the world as it is and has the courage to say so."

Lawyers for a woman who claims she suffered a miscarriage because of the way a Michigan Catholic hospital handled her case have filed suit on her behalf against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops over its "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care."The lawsuit was file

Pope Francis lays out a vision of the church dedicated to society's poorest and most vulnerable.

International and national church aid officials lost contact with their local counterparts.

The German bishop is at the center of controversy over expenditures for his residence.

Reports of severe hardship in Middle East, Marxist and 'post-Communist' states.

"The church is a mother, and she must travel this path of mercy," the pope said.

Civilian Catholic chaplains, unable to perform religious duties at U.S. military bases during the first weekend of the federal government shutdown, were getting back on the job as the shutdown continued into its second week."We're now being told priests can return to work," said John S

Religious leaders gathered on Sept. 30 to denounce "political brinkmanship."