The news comes as other countries in Asia are starting to waken to the threat posed by mountains of plastic left at refuse dumps or dumped at sea.

The United Nations has described the Islamic State campaign against the Yazidis since 2014 as "genocide."

The Catholic church would benefit if bishops felt more like local leaders and less like regional managers in a Rome-based nonprofit. One way to move in that direction would be to have the clergy elect their bishops.

There is no question that the process for the appointment of bishops should be updated. But the election of bishops with procedures similar to democratic elections would only exacerbate all kinds of rifts in the Catholic Church today.

Politicians, educators and social justice leaders are remembering Charles Currie, S.J., whose passion for seeking justice in Central America made him a trusted adviser in Washington, D.C.

Recent weeks have brought a number of stories that reveal how Pope Francis aims to lead the church on this issue.

“This barrier is absolutely critical for border security.”

Mr. Bolsonaro’s far-right rhetoric during the campaign has led to uncertainties about his policies as president and drawn international concern about the course he will set for the nation.

The priority given to Supreme Court nominations has left the movement vulnerable to being reduced to the role of supporting player within an overall conservative political agenda.

The press in China does not make any mention of an impending “trade war”—only trade frictions.

Many are asking why McCarrick was allowed to ascend the hierarchical church ladder when some in church circles had reported questionable behavior to the Vatican.

The budget bill try to end the partial government shutdown includes a provision to repeal the "Mexico City Policy" that prohibits U.S. funding of foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or promote abortion.

The Catholic organization Opus Dei paid $977,000 in 2005 to settle a sexual misconduct complaint against a once prominent Washington, D.C.-area priest.

The new documentary ‘Hesburgh’ highlights stories of bridge building by the legendary university president

“The reappearance of some populist and nationalist impulses today is progressively weakening the multilateral system,” Pope Francis said, “resulting in a general lack of trust, a crisis of credibility in international political life and a gradual marginalization of the most vulnerable members of the family of nations.”

The new church unites the two formerly schismatic bodies.

The Wise Men came all that way to hear the good news. I’ll bet there are a lot of people in your life who would like to hear it too.

The Catholic Church has condemned the practice and questioned whether the new law is constitutional.