Going to the margins to provide health services does not always earn Catholic hospitals praise; sometimes it provokes unfriendly scrutiny.

The willingness to rush the border fence despite the I.D.F.’s overwhelming firepower is a testimony to the despair of the people living in Gaza.

Developments on the Korean peninsula have inspired a degree of shock and awe in diplomatic circles.

In April scores have died in a series of attacks and assassinations in Mexico, the Philippines and Nigeria. Catholics at prayer during Mass have been targeted in a number of attacks.

More than 200,000 Salvadorans, the largest T.P.S. community, “would be far too many people for the country to absorb,” said Archbishop Wenski, pointing out that the virtual control of entire communities by drug and extortion gangs mean that El Salvador remains a perilous place for many.

End-of-life disputes can be complicated and nuanced and require a sober understanding of the underlying medical technicalities and ethical concerns.

A human rights attorney in the United States believes that the upcoming canonization of Blessed Oscar Romero in October has been a factor in a decision to revisit the 1989 Jesuit massacre at the University of Central America.

The desire for stronger gun control may not translate into more caution with gun storage among owners of firearms.

This time the victims themselves are not having it. From the moment the first shots rang out, they captured the horror and broadcast it, forced the nation to confront it and talk about it.

To the consternation of humanitarian, health and civic activists, the budget proposal includes deep cuts or restructuring of international aid and social service programs.