US bishop who says priests should deny communion to abortion backers resigns

October 9th, 2009 African nuns tell Vatican they want more influenceVATICAN CITY — African nuns told a Vatican meeting Friday they want more of a say in running the Catholic Church on the continent, saying they have special talents and shouldn't be left to clean churches and mend vestments. Women also have an important role to play in forging reconciliation in Africa's many tribal and ethnic conflicts — the main focus of the 3-week-long Vatican meeting on Africa, said Sister Pauline Odia Bukasa of Congo.

September 30th, 2009 Canadian Bishop charged with child pornTORONTO — A Roman Catholic bishop who oversaw his diocese's settlement with victims of sex abuse is facing child pornography charges, police said Wednesday. Bishop Raymond Lahey had his computer and other unspecified media seized after authorities found something troubling during a random search of his laptop computer at Ottawa's airport on Sept.

September 7th, 2009 Kathmandu, Sept 6 (IBNS) Nepal Culture Minister Minindra Rijal Sunday said providing security to the Indian priests here is of ‘prime importance’ to the government at the moment. He also said such an incident won’t be repeated in Nepal.

August 25th, 2009 Abortion foes start push for 'personhood' measureDENVER — Colorado abortion foes are launching another campaign to amend the state constitution to give legal protections to human embryos. Supporters said Tuesday they'll begin collecting signatures to get it on next year's ballot.

August 14th, 2009 Mexican bishop runs over 6 people, killing 1VERACRUZ, Mexico — One person is dead and five injured in Mexico after a Roman Catholic bishop apparently lost control of his vehicle and ran them over. Police in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz say Bishop Eduardo Patino Leal has been detained in the town of Huatusco.

August 2nd, 2009 L.A. Episcopalians nominate gay clergy for bishopLOS ANGELES — An openly gay priest and an openly lesbian priest are among six nominees for assistant bishop positions in the Episcopal Church's Diocese of Los Angeles. The church announced Sunday that Rev.

July 27th, 2009 Anglican Church may have 'two track' structureLONDON — The worldwide Anglican Communion may have to accept a "two track" system in which churches can hold different opinions about gay clergy and same-sex unions, the Archbishop of Canterbury said Monday in a bid to keep the church unified. Rowan Williams outlined his thoughts on the future of the deeply divided church body on his Web site in response to the recently completed General Convention of the Episcopal Church, the communion's U.S.

July 17th, 2009 Episcopalians OK gay blessingsANAHEIM, Calif. — Episcopalians are allowing bishops to decide whether to bless same-sex marriages.

July 16th, 2009 Episcopal bishops OK prayer for gay couplesANAHEIM, Calif. — Episcopal bishops authorized the church Wednesday to start drafting an official prayer for same-sex couples, another step toward acceptance of gay relationships that will deepen the rift between the denomination and its fellow Anglicans overseas.

July 5th, 2009 Church of England bishop says gays should 'repent'LONDON — A senior Church of England bishop has angered gay-rights campaigners by saying homosexuals should repent. Archbishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that the Bible defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

July 1st, 2009 Controversial Brazilian bishop retiresVATICAN CITY — The Vatican has announced the retirement of a Brazilian archbishop who caused a major stir when he declared that those involved in an abortion for a 9-year-old rape victim were excommunicated. The Vatican said Wednesday that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation submitted for reasons of age of 76-year-old Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho of Olinda and Recife.

May 31st, 2009 Abortion foes fear backlash to Tiller's slayingNEW YORK — Anti-abortion leaders are deeply worried that the Obama administration and other Democrats may try to capitalize on the slaying of Dr. George Tiller to defuse the abortion issue in upcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

May 13th, 2009 Catholic diocese in NM will review priests' filesALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup is reviewing the files of all its priests, saying it wants a more thorough evaluation under the church's national policy on preventing abuse and responding to molestation claims.

May 8th, 2009 Archbishop says Obama advancing anti-life agendaWASHINGTON — A powerful Catholic leader on Friday accused President Barack Obama of pushing an anti-life, anti-family agenda and called Notre Dame's invitation for him to speak scandalous. Archbishop Raymond Burke, the first American to lead the Vatican supreme court, said Catholic universities should not give a platform, let alone honor, "those who teach and act publicly against the moral law." Notre Dame has asked Obama to deliver the commencement address on May 17, an invitation that has drawn criticism from a number of Catholics.

April 30th, 2009 Obama defends support for abortion rightsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says abortion is both a moral and ethical issue, and abortion rights backers make a mistake when they consider it solely a matter of women's freedom. Obama told a prime-time news conference Wednesday that he supports abortion rights because he thinks a woman is in a better position to make a very personal choice than a member of Congress or the president.