The Catholic community continues efforts to prevent the needs of the poor from being heaped onto the pile of expendables.
The OECD reports that the share of children living in poor households has reached 12.7 percent among its member states.
President Benigno Aquino said that he would risk excommunication to support a law that would allow artificial contraception in the Philippines.
Two-thirds of developing countries are on track or close to meeting targets for tackling extreme poverty and hunger.
With more legislatures taking immigration-related problems into state hands, President Obama renewed his commitment to a federal approach to reform.
The scholars Daniel Callahan and his wife, Sidney, were honored for their distinguished contribution to culture by the editors of America.