By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — For the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., 2012 brought glimmers of hope that there might soon be a way to clear up their unsettled legal status. After nearly two decades of stymied efforts to fix what is widely …

By Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Catholic bishops in England and Wales said they strongly oppose a bill to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster and Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark — the president and vice-president of the Bishops’ Conference of …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI launched his very own Twitter account, sending a short inaugural message to his more than 1 million followers. “Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. …

Catholic News Service WASHINGTON ( — The Supreme Court will take up in the spring two cases over the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. In orders issued Dec. 7, the court agreed to hear a case over California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, and one out of New York over …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican praised a United Nations vote making Palestine a non-member observer state but called for full recognition of Palestinian sovereignty as necessary for peace in the region. One hundred thirty-eight member states voted Nov. 29 to boost Palestine’s status …

By Catholic News Service MADRID (CNS) — Spain’s Catholic bishops urged political parties to unite against same-sex marriage, after it was confirmed as legal by the Constitutional Court. “Spanish legislation on marriage is gravely unjust — it does not protect the parties’ right to be recognized in law as husband …

By Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — The British government has opened an independent inquiry into allegations that an end-of-life protocol is operating as a euthanasia pathway. It said the inquiry would investigate complaints raised by families who say that relatives have died after they were placed, …

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Nov. 26 for a federal appeals court to take up a Christian college’s challenge to the Affordable Care Act, reopening one of several lawsuits filed by religious and other groups who oppose elements of the law. …

VATICAN CITY — The Nov. 21 publication of “Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives,” which completes Pope Benedict XVI’s popular three-volume series on the life and teachings of Christ, is the latest reminder of the author’s prolific output, now amounting to more than 60 books.

NEW YORK — What better way to spend a few hours over the holidays than in the company, not only of Santa Claus himself, but of the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Sandman?