Many immigrants might soon be able to "come out of the shadows."

Restoration of ties was long promoted by church leaders in both countries

It will be several months, at least, before anyone can apply to take advantage of immigration policy changes announced by President Barack Obama Nov. 20.Some aspects will go through the federal rule-making process, which requires a formal advertising and comment period that could take a year or more

Leaders seek to address underlying conditions that led to recent waves of migration.

A table spread with the components of Thanksgiving dinner, with the White House as a backdrop, set the scene on Nov. 19 for what will turn out to be a last-minute pitch to the president to protect some of the nation's 11 million immigrants who are in the country illegally.Shortly before the Whit

In two letters to members of Congress, the chairmen of four committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged action to protect the poor and to enact conscience protections for medical workers and insurers.A third letter by the chairmen of two other committees encouraged the chairman of th

With an engaging illustration of economic inequity in the United States, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley told an audience at The Catholic University of America that the lessons he learned as a student there too often are lost in politics and policy.Principles including belief in the dignity of eve

Although the Supreme Court just a few weeks ago declined to accept any of several challenges to rulings making same-sex marriage legal in various states, a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision Nov. 6 could lead to another shot at the high court weighing in on a nationwide approach to such unio

President Barack Obama's decision to delay executive measures on immigration until after the November elections drew sharp rebukes from some of the most vocal advocates for immigrants, while others plugged away at arguing for certain actions, and analysts weighed whether the delay hurts or helps

Ebola, war or disaster: how, when global service groups decide to flee