Homs, Syria

An emotional Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila, Philippines, welcomed U.S. Catholic leaders on Feb. 3 to review recovery efforts after Typhoon Haiyan, saying that the work to rebuild devastated communities can show the world a church united in the service of people in need. • A statement released by the Legion of Christ on Feb. 6 expressed “deep sorrow” for the late Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado’s “reprehensible and objectively immoral behavior” and expressed regret over the congregation’s “long institutional silence” in response to accusations against him. • A Catholic adoption agency in Scotland on Jan. 31 won an appeal that allows it to remain open without assessing gay couples as possible adopters and foster parents. • As horror stories continued to be told by Syrian refugees reaching Jordan, Russian officials reported on Feb. 7 that a three-day ceasefire had been accepted by government and opposition forces to allow civilians to evacuate the Syrian city of Homs and supplies of humanitarian aid to reach those who choose to remain. • An Israeli Supreme court ruling on Feb. 3 at least temporarily halted the construction of a controversial security barrier that threatens to cut off Christians in the Cremisan Valley, near the West Bank city of Beit Jalla.

This article appears in February 24 2014.