IMAGE: CNS photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Trash was not picked up around some of the most famous of monuments in Washington, and the White House Visitor Center and other tourist spots in the nation’s capital closed as the president and lawmakers refused to find …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Richard Meek, The Cath By Richard Meek BATON ROUGE, La. (CNS) — An Election Day mistake opened the door wide for some real evangelization. It began as some voting locations Nov. 6 ran out of "I Voted" stickers, which are traditionally provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sanjeef Gupta, EPA By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — Defending and protecting human life means rejecting abortion, caring for the sick, offering a decent welcome to immigrants, valuing the contributions of the elderly, encouraging families to have children and caring for the environment, the bishops of Italy said. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Baz Ratner, Reuters By KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — The new archbishop of Kinshasa warned peace will be endangered if elections — repeatedly delayed — are not held Dec. 30. Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, installed as archbishop of Kinshasa in late November, preached about peace and the elections during …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jorge Silva, Reuters By JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNS) — Catholic Relief Services is working with local partners to help determine the greatest needs of survivors of Indonesia’s Dec. 22 tsunami, said Yenni Suryani, country manager for the U.S. agency. "People whose homes were destroyed are staying in evacuation centers …

IMAGE: cNS photo/Claudio Peri, EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While "it may seem strange" to celebrate the feast of the first Christian martyr on the day after Christmas, Pope Francis said it serves as a reminder that Jesus came to offer his life for the salvation of …

IMAGE: By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Just before Christmas the Vatican announced it had opened a new medical clinic for the homeless and the poor, expanding services previously offered in a small space just outside St. Peter’s Square. The Merciful Mother Clinic, which has three fully equipped examining …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Delivering his formal Christmas message and blessing, Pope Francis prayed for a world where all people would recognize that they are brothers and sisters and would work for justice and for peace. The birth of Jesus proclaims that "God …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus’ birth in a stable, God’s coming to earth in extreme simplicity, teaches Christians that love is more valuable than anything else and is what will change the world, Pope Francis said. "In Bethlehem, we discover that the life …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Darrow, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Michigan priest criticized for emphasizing suicide in his homily during a recent funeral for an 18-year-old who took his own life has since apologized. "As with any funeral, it was my intent to serve this family in their …