JERUSALEM – Shatha Halu, a first grader at Holy Family School in Gaza City, put on his backpack and climbed down the 10 flights of stairs in his building on the way to school.Read More

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI deplored an assault by Israeli commandos on a flotilla of ships taking aid to the Gaza Strip, calling the series of events “tragic” and “very painful,” as well as a cause concern for all those who long for peace in the region.Read More

WASHINGTON – April 17, 2008, the day Pope Benedict XVI visited the Catholic University of America, was “probably the greatest day of my life,” said Vincentian Father David O’Connell, who will step down Aug. 31 as president after leading the university for the past 12 years.Read More

WASHINGTON – The bishop of Belleville, Ill., whose finance council went to the Vatican with concerns about the source of money he used to purchase some vestments, has said he will ensure that the expenditures are covered from unrestricted funds.Read More

Saying it will strengthen the athletic program at Mount St. Joseph High School in Irvington, school leaders officially kicked off a $10.5 million capital campaign Jan. 11. Money raised from the effort will support the construction of a 1,000-seat stadium with a press box, a track and turf field, the refurbishment of the existing gymnasium,...Read More

DUBLIN – The Irish government’s response to recommendations to protect the safety of children have been “insubstantial, inadequate and too slow,” said a coalition of eight children’s charities.Read More

PHOENIX – A nun who concurred in an ethics committee’s decision to abort the child of a gravely ill woman at a Phoenix hospital was “automatically excommunicated by that action,” according to Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix.Read More

WASHINGTON – Now in its 35th year, the March for Life has accumulated a variety of events associated with it. Some events draw big names. Others draw big crowds.Read More