The group that represents Ireland's Catholic priests says the secrecy of Confession must be protected, despite government indications that Confessions would not be exempt from rules on mandatory reporting of child abuse.

Protestant Orangemen march during a parade in Belfast.

Indian bishops called for unity in the country's fight against terrorism a day after three bombs in Mumbai left at least 17 people dead and more than 140 injured.

The ordinations of 20 new priests for the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X are "illegitimate, period," said the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi.

An Ontario Court of Appeal ruling affirming a patient's rights in end-of-life care means that people with different values than their physicians needn't worry doctors will withdraw life support without their consent, said Alex Schadenberg.

Chinese officials ordained a bishop without papal mandate, just 10 days after the Holy See excommunicated another newly ordained bishop.

Tunisia's tiny Catholic community prays for the country's transition to democracy and hopes that the nation will embrace full religious freedom, said Archbishop Maroun Lahham of Tunis.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. If it's going to be done well then it must be done often.

Take physical fitness, for example. To keep healthy and spry, it just won't suffice to go for a weekly one-hour walk. Strenuous activity needs to happen frequently, daily if possible, to maintain even a modicum of heart-lung fitness.

Pope Benedict named an official delegation to represent him at the July 9 independence celebrations in Southern Sudan and charged members with conveying his hopes for "peace and prosperity" to citizens of the world's newest nation.

The California Catholic Conference opposes a bill passed by the state's legislators that requires social studies texts for kindergarteners through high school seniors in public school to specifically include the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.