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    • In this 2012 photo provided by Marycecelia Pla, her daughter, Caroline Pla, foreground, carries the ball during a Catholic Youth Organization league football game. The 11-year-old girl who's been playing football since kindergarten wants Philadelphia's Roman Catholic archdiocese to overturn a boys-only rule. (AP Photo/Pla Family)
      Girl fights to play in Catholic football league MARYCLAIRE DALE - AP - 57 mins ago

      DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia doesn't need another public relations headache after years of priest-abuse and school-closure headlines, … More »Girl fights to play in Catholic football league

      In this 2012 photo provided by Marycecelia Pla, her daughter, Caroline Pla, foreground, carries the ball during a Catholic Youth Organization league football game. The 11-year-old girl who's been playing football since kindergarten wants Philadelphia's Roman Catholic archdiocese to overturn a boys-only rule. (AP Photo/Pla Family)

      DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia doesn't need another public relations headache after years of priest-abuse and school-closure headlines, but it's got one in the form of a pony-tailed 11-year-old athlete.

    • FILE - A Thursday Sept. 16, 2010 photo from files showing Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien speaking to the media in Edinburgh, Scotland. Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who heads the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the requirement for priestly celibacy is "not of divine origin" and could be reconsidered. He told BBC Scotland that "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry _ Jesus didn't say that." (AP Photo/Scott Campbell, File)
      Cardinal: Married Catholic priests a possibility AP - 5 hrs ago

      LONDON (AP) — Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday. More »Cardinal: Married Catholic priests a possibility

      FILE - A Thursday Sept. 16, 2010 photo from files showing Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien speaking to the media in Edinburgh, Scotland. Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who heads the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the requirement for priestly celibacy is "not of divine origin" and could be reconsidered. He told BBC Scotland that "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry _ Jesus didn't say that." (AP Photo/Scott Campbell, File)

      LONDON (AP) — Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday.

    • FILE - This July 18, 2012 file photo shows Vatican Undersecretary for the Relations with States, Mons. Ettore Balestrero speaking during a press conference at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 transferred a top official from the Vatican's secretariat of state to Colombia amid swirling media speculation about the contents of a confidential report into the Vatican's leaks scandal. Mons. Balestrero was named undersecretary of the Vatican's Foreign Ministry in 2009. Benedict XVI on Friday named him ambassador, or nunzio, to Colombia. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, files)
      Pope clears decks with appointments, tweaks NICOLE WINFIELD - AP - 5 hrs ago

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI is clearing the decks of his pontificate, tweaking the rules of the conclave, finessing the religious rites used to launch the next … More »Pope clears decks with appointments, tweaks

      FILE - This July 18, 2012 file photo shows Vatican Undersecretary for the Relations with States, Mons. Ettore Balestrero speaking during a press conference at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 transferred a top official from the Vatican's secretariat of state to Colombia amid swirling media speculation about the contents of a confidential report into the Vatican's leaks scandal. Mons. Balestrero was named undersecretary of the Vatican's Foreign Ministry in 2009. Benedict XVI on Friday named him ambassador, or nunzio, to Colombia. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, files)

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI is clearing the decks of his pontificate, tweaking the rules of the conclave, finessing the religious rites used to launch the next papacy and making some eyebrow-raising final appointments before he retires next week.

    • A calendar with a picture of Pope Benedict XVI on its cover is seen in front of his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo
      Vatican denies sinister motives behind diplomat's transfer Reuters - 7 hrs ago

      VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican denied on Friday that Pope Benedict's decision to send a senior official to a new post in Latin America was linked to a secret report … More »Vatican denies sinister motives behind diplomat's transfer

      A calendar with a picture of Pope Benedict XVI on its cover is seen in front of his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo

      VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican denied on Friday that Pope Benedict's decision to send a senior official to a new post in Latin America was linked to a secret report about leaked papal papers. Since Benedict announced his resignation on February 11, Italian newspapers have been full of rumors about conspiracies, secret …

    • Did a Secret Vatican Report on Gay Sex and Blackmail Bring Down the Pope? Alexander Abad-Santos - The Atlantic Wire - 8 hrs ago

      Pope Benedict XVI has claimed that he's resigning the papacy next week because of old age. But according to the major Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the real reason … More »Did a Secret Vatican Report on Gay Sex and Blackmail Bring Down the Pope?

      Pope Benedict XVI has claimed that he's resigning the papacy next week because of old age. But according to the major Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the real reason he resigned is because he did not want to deal the repercussions of a secret 300-page Vatican dossier that allegedly found, among other things, an underground …

    • Czech Republic's deal with religious groups signed KAREL JANICEK - AP - 9 hrs ago

      PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech government signed deals with representatives of 16 religious groups on Friday to pay them billions of dollars in compensation for property that … More »Czech Republic's deal with religious groups signed

      PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech government signed deals with representatives of 16 religious groups on Friday to pay them billions of dollars in compensation for property that the country's former Communist regime seized from them.

    • FILE - This July 18, 2012 file photo shows Vatican Undersecretary for the Relations with States, Mons. Ettore Balestrero speaking during a press conference at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 transferred a top official from the Vatican's secretariat of state to Colombia amid swirling media speculation about the contents of a confidential report into the Vatican's leaks scandal. Mons. Balestrero was named undersecretary of the Vatican's Foreign Ministry in 2009. Benedict XVI on Friday named him ambassador, or nunzio, to Colombia. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, files)
      Pope moves top official amid leaks fallout NICOLE WINFIELD - AP - 10 hrs ago

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — In one of his last appointments, the pope on Friday transferred a top official from the Vatican's secretariat of state to Colombia amid swirling media … More »Pope moves top official amid leaks fallout

      FILE - This July 18, 2012 file photo shows Vatican Undersecretary for the Relations with States, Mons. Ettore Balestrero speaking during a press conference at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 transferred a top official from the Vatican's secretariat of state to Colombia amid swirling media speculation about the contents of a confidential report into the Vatican's leaks scandal. Mons. Balestrero was named undersecretary of the Vatican's Foreign Ministry in 2009. Benedict XVI on Friday named him ambassador, or nunzio, to Colombia. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, files)

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — In one of his last appointments, the pope on Friday transferred a top official from the Vatican's secretariat of state to Colombia amid swirling media speculation about the contents of a confidential report into the Vatican's leaks scandal.

    • Czech government signs church compensation deal AP - 11 hrs ago

      PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech government has signed deals with representatives of 16 churches to pay them billions of dollars in compensation for property that the country's … More »Czech government signs church compensation deal

      PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech government has signed deals with representatives of 16 churches to pay them billions of dollars in compensation for property that the country's former totalitarian Communist regime seized from them.

    • File photo of Pope Benedict XVI waving as he arrives to lead the Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican
      Special Report: The loneliness of the short distance pope Philip Pullella - Reuters - 17 hrs ago

      VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - In Havana last March, when Pope Benedict sat down with Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader jocularly asked his fellow octogenarian: "What … More »Special Report: The loneliness of the short distance pope

      File photo of Pope Benedict XVI waving as he arrives to lead the Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican

      VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - In Havana last March, when Pope Benedict sat down with Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader jocularly asked his fellow octogenarian: "What does a pope do?" Benedict proceeded to tell Castro, who had stepped down as president in 2008 for health reasons and had to be helped to walk into the room, …

    • Jets' Tebow on the bench against the Bills in Orchard Park
      NY Jets quarterback Tebow cancels controversial church appearance Eric M. Johnson - Reuters - 23 hrs ago

      (Reuters) - New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, a devout Christian, has canceled an appearance at a Dallas mega-church led by a prominent pastor who has sparked controversy … More »NY Jets quarterback Tebow cancels controversial church appearance

      Jets' Tebow on the bench against the Bills in Orchard Park

      (Reuters) - New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, a devout Christian, has canceled an appearance at a Dallas mega-church led by a prominent pastor who has sparked controversy over remarks he made from the pulpit about gays and other religions. Tebow, 25, who famously kneels in prayer on the football field in a move that …

    • Tim Tebow Betrays the Christian Right J.K. Trotter - The Atlantic Wire - Thu, Feb 21, 2013

      He gained a few unexpected fans in the gay community today, but notoriously God-fearing quarterback Tim Tebow may have scared off the very supporters who saw him as a … More »Tim Tebow Betrays the Christian Right

      He gained a few unexpected fans in the gay community today, but notoriously God-fearing quarterback Tim Tebow may have scared off the very supporters who saw him as a Christian celebrity even as his NFL career has fizzled — they're calling his about-face on an anti-gay marriage pastor "disastrous," and declaring "his street …

    • FILE - This Sept. 15, 2006 file photo released by the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI, at center, presiding a meeting with outgoing Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, left foreground in red, and the new Vatican's No. 2 official Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, right foreground in red, during a meeting at the Vatican. After 35 years under two "scholar'' popes who paid scant attention to the internal governance of the Catholic Church, a chorus is growing that the next pontiff must have a solid track record managing a complicated bureaucracy. Benedict was well aware of the problems, having spent nearly a quarter-century in the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. But he never entered into the Vatican's political fray as a cardinal _ and as pope left it to his No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to do the job. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho, files)
      Vatican feuds, fiefdoms, betrayals await next pope NICOLE WINFIELD - AP - Thu, Feb 21, 2013

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict … More »Vatican feuds, fiefdoms, betrayals await next pope

      FILE - This Sept. 15, 2006 file photo released by the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano shows Pope Benedict XVI, at center, presiding a meeting with outgoing Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, left foreground in red, and the new Vatican's No. 2 official Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, right foreground in red, during a meeting at the Vatican. After 35 years under two "scholar'' popes who paid scant attention to the internal governance of the Catholic Church, a chorus is growing that the next pontiff must have a solid track record managing a complicated bureaucracy. Benedict was well aware of the problems, having spent nearly a quarter-century in the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. But he never entered into the Vatican's political fray as a cardinal _ and as pope left it to his No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to do the job. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho, files)

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's private papers is Exhibit A.

    • Tebow cancels talk at controversial Dallas church AP - Thu, Feb 21, 2013

      DALLAS (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has backed out of an appearance at a Baptist mega church in Dallas run by a pastor who has created controversy with … More »Tebow cancels talk at controversial Dallas church

      DALLAS (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has backed out of an appearance at a Baptist mega church in Dallas run by a pastor who has created controversy with his remarks about gays and other faiths.

    • Feuds, fiefdoms, betrayals underscore need for a manager pope to reform "ungovernable" Vatican Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press - AP - Thu, Feb 21, 2013

      VATICAN CITY - If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict … More »Feuds, fiefdoms, betrayals underscore need for a manager pope to reform "ungovernable" Vatican

      VATICAN CITY - If evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's private papers is Exhibit A.

    • Pictures of Pope Benedict XVI are seen at a newsstand outside the pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, in the town of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Immediately after his resignation on Feb. 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI will spend some time at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano in the hills south of Rome where he has spent his summer vacations reading and writing. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
      Pope considers new conclave rules, date uncertain NICOLE WINFIELD - AP - Wed, Feb 20, 2013

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI may enact a new law governing the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope amid continued uncertainty over when the voting can beg … More »Pope considers new conclave rules, date uncertain

      Pictures of Pope Benedict XVI are seen at a newsstand outside the pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, in the town of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Immediately after his resignation on Feb. 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI will spend some time at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano in the hills south of Rome where he has spent his summer vacations reading and writing. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

      VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI may enact a new law governing the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope amid continued uncertainty over when the voting can begin.

    • The Vatican emblem is seen from inside the Vatican state
      Pope may change conclave rules before leaving: Vatican Philip Pullella - Reuters - Wed, Feb 20, 2013

      VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict may change rules governing the conclave that will secretly elect his successor, a move that could move up the global meeting of … More »Pope may change conclave rules before leaving: Vatican

      The Vatican emblem is seen from inside the Vatican state

      VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict may change rules governing the conclave that will secretly elect his successor, a move that could move up the global meeting of cardinals who are already in touch about who could best lead Catholics through a period of crisis. The Vatican appears to be aiming to have a new pope elected …

    • A New Pope May Be Selected Sooner Than Expected Dashiell Bennett - The Atlantic Wire - Wed, Feb 20, 2013

      The Vatican admitted on Wednesday that Pope Benedict XVI may issue a decree to speed up the process to select his successor, to prevent the Catholic Church from being … More »A New Pope May Be Selected Sooner Than Expected

      The Vatican admitted on Wednesday that Pope Benedict XVI may issue a decree to speed up the process to select his successor, to prevent the Catholic Church from being leaderless at an important time of the year. Church laws state that the conclave to pick a new pope must begin between 15 and 20 days after the seat becomes …

    • Edward Morrissey
      What Uncle Sam could learn from the Catholic Church Edward Morrissey - The Week - Wed, Feb 20, 2013

      We absolutely ought to have a safety net for the very needy — but it won't come cheap More »What Uncle Sam could learn from the Catholic Church

      Edward Morrissey

      We absolutely ought to have a safety net for the very needy — but it won't come cheap

    • Cast member Christian Bale attends the world premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises" in New York
      Christian Bale to climb Lucas Shaw - Reuters - Tue, Feb 19, 2013

      NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Christian Bale is bracing to climb Mount Everest. The Welsh actor is in talks to star in "Everest," a film about two deadly days on the world's … More »Christian Bale to climb

      Cast member Christian Bale attends the world premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises" in New York

      NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Christian Bale is bracing to climb Mount Everest. The Welsh actor is in talks to star in "Everest," a film about two deadly days on the world's tallest mountain that Baltasar Kormakur is in talks to direct for Universal and Working Title, multiple individuals close to the project told TheWrap. The …

    • Relatives of victims of the Magdalene Laundries hold a candle lit vigil in solidarity with Justice for Magdalene Survivors and their families outside Leinster House, Dublin,Ireland, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. The women expect to witness an apology by the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on behalf of the people of Ireland for ignoring them and their treatment at the 10 laundries in the Republic between 1922 and 1996. The women will also hear details of how the State intends to assist them financially and in other ways as restitution. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
      Ireland apologizes to women of Catholic laundries SHAWN POGATCHNIK - AP - Tue, Feb 19, 2013

      DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland ignored the mistreatment of thousands of women who were incarcerated within Catholic nun-operated laundries and must pay the survivors compensation, … More »Ireland apologizes to women of Catholic laundries

      Relatives of victims of the Magdalene Laundries hold a candle lit vigil in solidarity with Justice for Magdalene Survivors and their families outside Leinster House, Dublin,Ireland, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. The women expect to witness an apology by the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on behalf of the people of Ireland for ignoring them and their treatment at the 10 laundries in the Republic between 1922 and 1996. The women will also hear details of how the State intends to assist them financially and in other ways as restitution. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

      DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland ignored the mistreatment of thousands of women who were incarcerated within Catholic nun-operated laundries and must pay the survivors compensation, Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Tuesday in an emotional state apology for the decades of abuses in the so-called Magdalene Laundries.

    • A bartender looks on in the "Coming Out" bar, Rome's best known gay bar, next to the Colosseum in downtown Rome
      Rome's gays toast the departure of an unloved pope Robin Pomeroy - Reuters - Tue, Feb 19, 2013

      ROME (Reuters) - Across the road from the Colosseum, the ancient Roman stadium consecrated as a holy Christian site, clients at a busy bar are raising a glass to the … More »Rome's gays toast the departure of an unloved pope

      A bartender looks on in the "Coming Out" bar, Rome's best known gay bar, next to the Colosseum in downtown Rome

      ROME (Reuters) - Across the road from the Colosseum, the ancient Roman stadium consecrated as a holy Christian site, clients at a busy bar are raising a glass to the pope: toasting the departure of the worst Church leader they can imagine. For drinkers in Rome's best known gay bar, Benedict's abdication is a blessing. "He …

    • Federal government to announce Religious Freedom Office today in Maple, Ont. The Canadian Press - AP - Tue, Feb 19, 2013

      MAPLE, Ont. - The federal government is planning to announce its long-awaited Office of Religious Freedom in an event today at a mosque north of Toronto. More »Federal government to announce Religious Freedom Office today in Maple, Ont.

      MAPLE, Ont. - The federal government is planning to announce its long-awaited Office of Religious Freedom in an event today at a mosque north of Toronto.

    • Does an Ex-Pope Keep His Health Care? ... and Other Papal Resignation Quandaries Alexander Abad-Santos - The Atlantic Wire - Mon, Feb 18, 2013

      Infallibility. Immunity. Health care. Pope Benedict XVI is expected to only have two of these things upon his retirement next week. If you had any questions about the … More »Does an Ex-Pope Keep His Health Care? ... and Other Papal Resignation Quandaries

      Infallibility. Immunity. Health care. Pope Benedict XVI is expected to only have two of these things upon his retirement next week. If you had any questions about the pope, like if we can still call him a pope or about where his infallibility goes now, we have got you covered.

    • Netanyahu thanks pope for deepening Christian-Jewish ties Reuters - Mon, Feb 18, 2013

      JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked outgoing Pope Benedict on Monday for his efforts to shore up often troubled relations between … More »Netanyahu thanks pope for deepening Christian-Jewish ties

      JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked outgoing Pope Benedict on Monday for his efforts to shore up often troubled relations between the Roman Catholic Church and Jews, including with his 2009 visit to the Holy Land. That trip, in which the German-born Benedict paid respects at Israel's …

    • Pope resignation deepens doubt, despondency for Italians Barry Moody - Reuters - Mon, Feb 18, 2013

      ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's shock resignation has robbed Italians of the one element of certainty in a time of deep doubt, with the country beset by graft scandals … More »Pope resignation deepens doubt, despondency for Italians

      ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's shock resignation has robbed Italians of the one element of certainty in a time of deep doubt, with the country beset by graft scandals and heading for an election that will not bring the radical change so many crave. The pontiff has long been the one stable element for Roman Catholic Italians …

     

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