The Venezuelan bishops' conference has labeled the new government of Nicolas Maduro "illegitimate" and called for a "change in government."

Although Latin America has advanced since a 1968 church conference first declared a "preferential option for the poor," a number of troubling signs threaten the progress made, both socially and religiously.

The director of Caritas Colombia has called for dialogue between the country's new president-elect and former leftist guerrillas to prevent the return of guerrilla warfare.

In at least three Latin American countries, Catholics have become religious minorities. 

The congregation who run the Providence Asylum nursing home face a heartbreaking dilemma: record demand, but record-low resources.

During his comments to the pro-government National Constituent Assembly Jan. 15, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also ordered the attorney general to investigate the bishops for hate crimes.

Many managing medical conditions like HIV must worry not only about their medication, but about putting food on the table.

"The bishops are unanimous in their rejection of this new assembly, and we are asking the government to reconsider," Cardinal Urosa told Venezuela news station Globovision the day before the vote.

The bishops wrote an eight-point communique on March 31, saying, "Venezuelans can't remain passive, be intimidated, or lose hope."