The Belgian parliament voted overwhelmingly to condemn "the unacceptable stance taken by the pope" on condoms and AIDS.

The new regulations are considered one of the toughest sets of limitations on capital punishment in the nation.

The arrest of a Chinese 74-year-old bishop was "unfortunately not an isolated case," the Vatican said.

The Catholic conference said the proposal unfairly targets the church and other private institutions.

Prelates in several Latin American countries have spoken about the problem of drug trafficking in recent months.

Homeland Security plans to deploy federal agents to the southern border region are receiving mixed reviews from Mexican Catholic officials.