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Vatican official says church making progress in stopping sexual abuse

VATICAN CITY - Appearing before a U.N. committee monitoring adherence to an international treaty designed to fight torture, a Vatican official insisted that, over the past 10 years, the Catholic Church has "in a systematic, constructive and effective way," worked to prevent clerical sexual abuse of minors and assist victims.

Vatican statistics report Church growth remains steady worldwide

VATICAN CITY - The number of Catholics in the world and the number of priests, permanent deacons and religious men all increased in 2012, while the number of women in religious orders continued to decline, according to Vatican statistics.

Hopes rise that Pope, patriarch meeting renews Christian unity effort

ROME - The Orthodox bishop who is co-ordinating the upcoming pilgrimage to Jerusalem by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said he hopes the patriarch's May 25 meeting with Pope Francis will give new impetus to efforts for Christian unity.

‘So much denial’ on sexual abuse crisis, says Cardinal O'Malley

VATICAN CITY - The Roman Catholic Church has failed to recognize the worldwide reach of clerical sexual abuse, said Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley.

Social climbers should head for hills, not the Church, for ambitions

VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church is no place for "climbers" who want to reach the heights of prestige, power and profit, Pope Francis said.

Fun, not money should rule sports, says Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY - Soccer-fan Pope Francis urged professional athletes to always be sportsmanlike on and off the field because so many people, especially kids, look up to them.

Pope: New attitude of 'evangelical service' must take hold at Vatican

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis told his new economic oversight council that it must be "courageous and determined" in its critical role of helping the Church not waver from its real mission of bringing the Gospel to the world and helping those most in need.

Don’t equate sexual abuse of minors with torture, Vatican tells UN

VATICAN CITY - As Vatican representatives prepare to testify before a United Nations inquiry into torture next week, a senior official warned investigators that it would be “deceptive” to link torture with the pedophilia scandals that have swept the Catholic Church.

God’s mercy allows us to repent

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A) May 11 (Acts 2:14a, 36b-41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10)

Peter’s words rolled across the crowd like the voice of doom. They were thunderstruck at his message: somehow they had crucified the one whom God had designated as Lord and Messiah.

We can’t always trust happiness

One of the most gifted actors I’ve observed is Robert Duvall. From fearless napalm-loving Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, to shy retired Cuban barber in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, or mild-mannered consigliere of The Godfather, he gives life to an astonishing array of characters.

God’s quiet presence in our life

The 12th-century Persian poet Rumi submits that we live with a deep secret that sometimes we know, and then not.