Francine Pirola, co-director of the Sydney-based Marriage Resource Center, said the council had produced a “vastly improved” revision of the section of the document on women, which had been the focus of a major disruption July 6.

The agenda for the Second Assembly of Australia’s Plenary Council was disrupted July 6 after more than 60 of the 277 members staged a protest over issues regarding women in the church.

The Catholic bishops of Australia are refuting claims that they are not doing enough to combat sexual abuse within the church.

The deaths of three siblings and their cousin -- killed as they were walking to get ice cream -- led to stories of faith and forgiveness that "stunned the world," a priest said at their funeral.

In Australia, priests are joining in the effort to combat the devasting bushfires that have swept the country.