MEXICO CITY -- A catechist instructor was shot dead at a chapel in Chiapas state -- another example of how the violence consuming Mexico is impacting the Catholic Church.

MEXICO CITY -- Two young men arriving for a Mass to be celebrated before a quinceanera in Mexico's Veracruz state were shot dead as they entered the parish parking lot. It was the latest atrocity in a steady string of mass slayings, which have highlighted a surge in the country's already shockingly high homicide rate.

OTTAWA - The family of murder victims Arianna Goberdhan and her pre-born daughter Asaara are looking for the public’s help in a new push to create a law that would mean an unborn child could be considered a murder victim.

NAIROBI, Kenya – Although official reports say Mill Hill Father Cosmas Omboto Ondari was caught in the crossfire of government and opposition forces, the local bishop says Father Ondari was killed by government soldiers.

VATICAN – The Vatican press office confirmed news reports that human bones had been found during reconstruction work in a building connected to the Vatican Embassy to Italy.

MEXICO CITY – An auxiliary police officer was shot dead at the Mexico City home of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera in what authorities described as an unsuccessful attempt at robbing the retired churchman.

VATICAN – Hurling insults and being indifferent to other people's lives is the first step along the winding path that leads to killing them, at least figuratively, Pope Francis said.

LIMA, Peru – The Peruvian National Police arrested a suspect in connection with the death of Jesuit Father Carlos Riudavets.

MANILA, Philippines – A Catholic priest who once served as chaplain of the Philippine National Police was wounded after a gun attack June 6 in Calamba City, about 25 miles from Manila.

BANGALORE, India – Father Xavier Thelakkat, rector of the shrine of St. Thomas at Malayattoor, was stabbed to death March 1 around noon.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Catholic bishops in Cameroon said a bishop whose body was pulled from a river in early June did not commit suicide, but was murdered.

As a fan of murder mysteries, I was drawn to a new Netflix series entitled The Keepers, a true-crime story about the murder of a popular young nun who was a high school teacher in Baltimore.

The author of a new book about the men who killed Archbishop Oscar Romero while celebrating Mass 37 years ago says the subject is still dangerous to talk about.

OTTAWA – The murder of a pregnant mother and her unborn child has revived calls for Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code to recognize unborn victims of crime.

VATICAN CITY – Remembering religious women who too often are the targets of violence around the world, Pope Francis led prayers for a Spanish sister murdered Sept. 2 in Haiti.