Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the pope's vicar for Rome, criticized the decision as trivializing sex.

Shortly after entering Congress in 1993, Rep. Bart Stupak withstood President Bill Clinton's charm offensive and voted against free-trade legislation - an early display of the independent streak that has put him at odds with fellow Democrats many times since.

Australian of the Year Pat McGorry has backed calls for a Senate inquiry into Scientology, saying its views on mental health are putting lives at risk.

The Vatican has been rocked by sexual abuse scandals in several European countries, including one that touches Pope Benedict XVI 's brother.

Lawyers are in the final stages of seating a jury for the trial of Merril Leroy Jessop, 35, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints charged with sexual assault of a child.

In a written statement, Archbishop Charles Chaput said, "If parents don't respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible." Chaput confirmed Sacred Hearts of Jesus Catholic School told the parents that one of the children could ...