Catholic groups have collected and are distributing aid for thousands of people affected by a deadly earthquake that struck Lombok, Indonesia's popular tourist island.

As Europe continues to struggle with migrant and refugee arrivals, Catholics in the French capital are heeding Pope Francis' call to come to their aid by providing practical and spiritual help to the newcomers.

One night in a small town in Mexico, armed men arrived at Maria's house. Pregnant and with her young daughter asleep in the next room, she wasn't sure if she should rush to get her 2-year-old or run for her life.

Some experts believe that while many seminaries have established policies to protect adults studying to be priests and members of religious communities, seminary culture sometimes remains an obstacle to protecting them from predatory behavior.

During the Saturday evening Mass when Father Looney heard the opening lines of the first reading from Jeremiah, the priest switched gears, deciding he had to say something about sexual abuse allegations against now former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington.

The Special Olympics, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, turned 50 this year, with this year's games held in Seattle. The Catholic community had joined in a winning pitch four years ago to host the Special Olympics for 2018 and were rewarded with the games.