US Catholic sisters targeted in Vatican-ordered investigation want specifics about inquiry

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 23rd, 2009 Vatican bank has new chairmanVATICAN CITY — The Vatican has named an Italian economist as the chairman of its bank. The Vatican said Wednesday that Ettore Gotti Tedeschi replaces Angelo Caloia at the helm of the bank, formally known as the Institute for the Works of Religion.

September 19th, 2009 Pope: Bishops to discuss Middle East next yearVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has announced a special meeting of bishops next year to discuss Middle East peace efforts and the role of the Catholic Church in the region. Addressing bishops and patriarchs from Eastern rite churches, Benedict said Saturday that the meeting will take place Oct.

September 8th, 2009 Vatican museums to stay open at night through Oct.VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Friday nights at its museums have been a great success, so it is extending the initiative to include September and October. The Vatican Museums, which include a visit to the Sistine Chapel, are jammed by tourists during the daytime, so this summer they opened the doors on an experimental basis on July 24.

September 8th, 2009 Egg hatchery owner says inquiry found problemsDES MOINES, Iowa — The owner of a northwest Iowa egg hatchery where a video shows unwanted chicks being tossed alive into a grinder says an independent investigation found animal welfare policy violations at the plant. But West Des Moines-based Hy-Line North America said in a Tuesday statement that it won't release further details.

August 31st, 2009 Pope accepts Scranton bishop's resignationVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the early retirement of a U.S. bishop who has denounced nuns for sponsoring lectures by gay-rights advocates and directed priests to deny communion to abortion backers, the Vatican said Monday.

August 18th, 2009 Vatican extends museum nights through OctoberVATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Friday nights at its museums have been a great success and will be extended through September and October. The Vatican Museums, which include a visit to the Sistine Chapel, are jammed by tourists during the daytime.

August 4th, 2009 Catholic sisters queried about doctrine, fidelityA Vatican-ordered investigation into Roman Catholic sisters in the U.S., shrouded in mystery when it was announced seven months ago, is shaping up to be a tough examination of whether women's religious communities have strayed too far from church teaching. The review "is intended as a constructive assessment and an expression of genuine concern for the quality of the life" of roughly 59,000 U.S.

July 5th, 2009 Russian president: We want better Vatican tiesVATICAN CITY — Russia's president says Moscow plans to improve its ties with the Vatican. Tensions between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches over property disputes and other issues have so far made it impossible for any pope to visit Moscow.

July 4th, 2009 Vatican runs deficit amid economic crisisVATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Saturday it ran a deficit in 2008 as its finances and donations from across the world were hit by the global economic crisis. The Vatican posted a budget deficit for a second straight year, though the figures improved strongly from 2007.

June 24th, 2009 Obama to meet the pope while in Italy for G-8VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Obama will meet on July 10, a much-anticipated Vatican audience with a president under attack by some American bishops for his support of abortion rights. Vatican spokesman the Rev.

June 19th, 2009 Breakaway Catholic group to ordain 13 in MinnesotaMINNEAPOLIS — An ultraconservative group plans to ordain 13 Roman Catholic priests in Minnesota — even though their elevations likely won't be recognized by the Vatican. The St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, part of the Society of St.

June 15th, 2009 Big Brothers Big Sisters joining with fraternitiesATLANTA — Three of the country's largest black fraternities are joining forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters to help woo black men into the mentoring program. Big Brothers Big Sisters President and CEO Judy Vredenburgh says the nonprofit has struggled to attract minorities to pair with a growing list of black youths from mostly single-parent homes who are signing up in droves.

April 22nd, 2009 Vatican to help restore art damaged in Italy quakeVATICAN CITY — The Vatican will help restore paintings, statues and other artworks damaged in the earthquake that devastated central earlier this month. Francesco Buranelli, a top culture official at the Holy See, said experts from the Vatican museums will directly restore some of the works.

March 30th, 2009 PATHANAMTHITTA - Bishop John Thattumkal of Kerala is in a fresh trouble. He has been found staying with the woman he had adopted as a daughter last year, which led to his suspension by the Vatican.