Topic: The Roman Catholic Church

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Catholicism in Latin America: 5 key facts

Pope Benedict XVI began his second trip to Latin America on March 23, with stops in Mexico and Cuba. Here is a brief history of the Catholic church in the Americas.
Rick Santorum: top 5 unorthodox views

Rick Santorum must try to prevent Mitt Romney from securing a majority of delegates before the Republican convention in August, and then have a contested convention. In many cases, his positions mirror Mr. Romney’s, but here are five of Mr. Santorum’s most unorthodox views.
Vatican Secret Archives: 6 of the most intriguing documents in church history

One hundred documents held in the Vatican’s Secret Archives are now on display in Rome for the first time. Read our list here of six standouts.
Roe v. Wade anniversary: Study says 'unsafe' abortions on rise

Roe v. Wade, the landmark legislation legalizing abortion in the United States, marks its 39th year this week. As Americans debate abortion rights in the midst of an election year, a new study indicates abortion rates are steadying worldwide, though the frequency of dangerous abortions is rising. Here are the answers to five questions related to abortion laws globally, and their effects on women.
In Pictures: Europe's love-hate relationship with the Pope

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How Peter Carl Fabergé turned Easter eggs into precious art (+video)

Peter Carl Fabergé, the subject of Wednesday's Google doodle, created elaborate and opulent Fabergé eggs. These jeweled works of art have become so famous that it's easy to forget that they started out as Easter eggs.
Africa Monitor
What African Evangelicals think of Florida's Quran-burning preacher

US Evangelicals are influential in Africa, but African church members focus on building schools and hospitals, and interfaith dialogue, rather than the Rev. Terry Jones's burning of sacred books.
Readers Write: Religion should 'render unto Ceasar'; Obamacare debate misses mark

Letters to the Editor for the weekly print issue of April 23, 2012: Several readers argue that protecting religious freedom can't threaten individual rights. Another says the debate over Obamacare ignores the real issue with US health-care – skyrocketing costs.
Vatican nun crackdown hits US group for 'radical feminist' ideas

Vatican nun crackdown: The largest group of American nuns was sanctioned for promoting 'certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith.' The Vatican nun crackdown included the appointment of a bishop to reorganize the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
Chapter & Verse
Vatican, Bodleian Libraries will publish millions of ancient texts online

Works that will be available for perusal will include Gutenberg's Bible, believed to be the first text ever printed.
Suicide car bombing kills 38 in Nigeria on Easter Sunday

Authorities believe the attacker was trying to detonate explosives near churches holding Easter services on Sunday.
Readers Write: Freedom of – or freedom from – religion?

Letters to the Editor for the weekly print issue of April 9, 2012:
What does Easter have to do with the moon anyway?

Traditionally, Easter is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere.
We Have a Pope: movie review

'We Have a Pope' has an engaging premise but the story sags unaccountably in the second half.
Global News Blog
Did Caravaggio meet a grisly end - with the Vatican's complicity?

Citing documents from the Vatican Secret Archives, an Italian historian argues that 17th-century documents reveal Renaissance artist Caravaggio was assassinated by the Knights of Malta.
Fidel Castro, excommunicated in 1962, meets with Pope Benedict

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who once outlawed religion, met with Pope Benedict XVI today. Benedict's visit is part of a new Catholic strategy in a changing Cuba.
Pope schedules last-minute meeting with Fidel Castro

Pope Benedict XVI's decision to meet with the former Cuban leader angered Castro critics because, they say, it gives the Cuban government legitimacy.
Latin America Monitor
Mexicans host Pope Benedict XVI, but say he's no Juan Pablo

A poll suggests Pope Benedict XVI had big shoes to fill in Mexico, where he celebrates Mass today before heading to Cuba. 
Catholicism in Latin America: 5 key facts

Pope Benedict XVI began his second trip to Latin America on March 23, with stops in Mexico and Cuba. Here is a brief history of the Catholic church in the Americas.
Why the pope wants stronger ties with Mexico and Cuba

While the Catholic church is bolstering the faithful in Mexico and Cuba, it is also seeking closer ties with national governments during Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to these countries.
Rick Santorum: top 5 unorthodox views

Rick Santorum must try to prevent Mitt Romney from securing a majority of delegates before the Republican convention in August, and then have a contested convention. In many cases, his positions mirror Mr. Romney’s, but here are five of Mr. Santorum’s most unorthodox views.
George Tupou V, King of Tonga, introduced democracy

Tongan Prime Minister Lord Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano said in a brief radio address Monday that the king died at 3 p.m. Sunday during a visit to Hong Kong. He didn't give a cause of death, but said further details and funeral plans would be released when available.
Anonymous hacker group claims to bring down Vatican website

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed the attack but declined to comment on its possible source. He said he didn't know how long it would take the Vatican's technicians to bring the site back up.
Vatican Secret Archives: 6 of the most intriguing documents in church history

One hundred documents held in the Vatican’s Secret Archives are now on display in Rome for the first time. Read our list here of six standouts.
Leap year: why we have a need for the occasional Feb. 29

The leap year is a testament to the tough time that humans have trying to organize 365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 16 seconds into a year.
Can birth-control flap rekindle 'repeal ObamaCare' crusade?

Republicans see the surge in support for religious freedom as an opening to overturn President Obama’s signature health-care reform. Conservatives are not likely to let the issue go lightly.
Miramonte sex abuse: Schools facing Catholic Church-like wave of scandal?

The Miramonte School scandal could be a wakeup call about the prevalence of sexual abuse in schools nationwide, experts say – adding that scandals could sweep though education world the way they did though the Catholic Church.
Obama, seeking to quell birth control furor, shifts cost to insurers

President Obama, yielding to pressure from religious groups and others, withdrew a mandate that religiously affiliated institutions include free birth control in health insurance plans for employees. Now, insurers will pay.
Global News Blog
Europe's weather brings continent to a halt

The frigid temperatures and snowfall that began in Eastern Europe last week have reached Western Europe, snarling airport traffic in Britain and turning Rome white.  
Abortion, birth control becoming major campaign issues

GOP presidential hopefuls are attacking President Obama's order on contraception and Catholic institutions. But Mitt Romney also faces questions about his past support for abortion rights.