MANCHESTER, England – A British think tank said a U.S. assisted-suicide law might have created a phenomenon of “doctor-shopping” for physicians willing to ignore safeguards to help healthy people kill themselves.Read More

WASHINGTON – Under persistent criticism from a small but vocal group of activists as well as questions from some bishops, leaders of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development have established “stronger policies and clearer mechanisms” to guide how grants are awarded to poverty-fighting groups and strengthen oversight of how funds are spent.Read More

WASHINGTON – The nuts-and-bolts consideration of whether Arizona’s school tuition tax credit program is constitutional, being heard by the Supreme Court Nov. 3, will first have to survive a preliminary question about legal standing.Read More

VATICAN CITY – Several prominent Israelis expressed concern over a statement by the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, which said Jews cannot use the Bible to justify injustices.Read More

VATICAN CITY – Members of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East formally asked Pope Benedict XVI to change Vatican rules that technically prohibit the Eastern Catholic churches from ordaining married men outside the traditional homeland of their churches.Read More

WASHINGTON – The papally mandated reform of the Legionaries of Christ may take “two or three years or even more” and require the establishment of at least three commissions, the papal delegate overseeing the reform said in an Oct. 19 letter.Read More

SAO PAULO, Brazil – As Brazil’s Oct. 31 presidential runoff approaches, abortion has become a major issue – at least among the nation’s Catholics.Read More

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Ethical and health concerns have long spurred Catholic and other pro-life activists to decry medical and scientific procedures involving the harvesting of women’s eggs.Read More