To be a true Christian means being forgiving, kind, humble, gentle, generous, merciful and very patient with one another, Pope Francis said in a morning homily.Priests must be especially merciful, he added, saying if that they weren't, then they should ask their bishop for a desk job and "n

"Churches, parishes, institutions with closed doors must not call themselves a church; they must call themselves museums," he said.

Since hundreds of olive trees were uprooted to make room for a separation barrier through the Cremisan Valley adjacent to this largely Christian village, Father Aktham Hijazin, Annunciation Parish priest, has been celebrating Mass daily behind red-and-white police tape.

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez ordained Bishops Robert E. Barron, Joseph V. Brennan and David G. O'Connell to the episcopacy Sept. 8 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

As Israeli students began their second week of classes Sept. 6, thousands of students and teachers from Christian schools converged in front of the Israeli prime minister's office to protest government budget cuts to their schools.Chanting slogans, waving banners and signs, and pounding on metal

"Please rid us of this corruption and the leaders who have taken us down the wrong paths," prayed Father Hugo Estrada. "We ask that you be with this great nation of Guatemala."