A top journalist who is a veteran of covering violent conflict in Mexico and Central America has a sober warning for anybody who smokes marijuana: If it comes from south of the border, "it's heavy with the blood of innocent people."

In what Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta called "a milestone on the ecumenical journey," the U.S. Catholic bishops affirmed an agreement to recognize baptisms in four Protestant Church communities.

Giving a Christmas present to the teacher is a tradition in Ireland and throughout the world, but there are only so many packets of bath salts, bottles of perfume and boxes of chocolate that one educator can use.

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the U.S. government to "redouble its efforts to assist Iraqis" in providing safety for its citizens, especially religious minorities.

Polish classical music composer Henryk Gorecki, whose distinct minimalist style of music gained throngs of followers beginning in the early 1990s, died Nov. 12 from complications of a lung infection.

The Society of St. Pius X threatened to expel traditionalist Bishop Richard Williamson if he retained an extremist lawyer with neo-Nazi ties to defend him in a German court.

Thanks to a discount from Sony and a contribution from the Knights of Columbus, the Vatican television centre has a multimillion-dollar high-definition mobile television studio, which will be operational in time for the pope's Christmas midnight Mass.

New Italian Cardinals Paolo Sardi and Velasio De Paolis talk with. . . . 

When WCR readers sat down to complete our current readership survey — which they are doing in quite large numbers — they no doubt were thinking only of what their responses mean for the newspaper. Yet their answers to some questions might also reflect what they would like to see as pastoral priorities of the local Church. more . . .

MARIA KOZAKIEWICZ

We have just had our first snowfall and voices coming from the street are muffled, air is crisp and fresh, snowflakes are twirling and settling gently on the sleeping plants.

Our two neighbours worked hard last weekend decorating their houses. As we drove back from work last night those wonderful huge rooftop Santas and reindeers, along with countless strings of lights, shone out triumphantly at us. more . . .