NATION/WORLD

The dream of trying to see Pope Francis up close ended at a police barricade for 74-year-old Odaleia Bastos.

Nearly 600 Native American Catholics from 37 states joined in the annual Tekakwitha Conference gathering in El Paso July 17-22.

RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- Hundreds of thousands of cheering people welcomed Pope Francis to Brazil July 22 as he made the first international trip of his pontificate to his native region of Latin America.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO BRAZIL (CNS) -- With economic hard times as an excuse not to hire young people, the world risks tossing them aside and endangers its own future, Pope Francis said.

A federal judge in Oklahoma City July 19 granted a temporary injunction to the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby, saying it would not have to comply with the federal health care law mandating that employers provide coverage of contraceptives in their health insurance plans.

As Great Britain and Ireland debate right-to-life issues in current health care policies and legislation, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics there to uphold "the inestimable value of all human life."

A United Nations' committee concerned with children's rights is requesting that the Vatican provide complete details about every accusation it has ever received of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

Catholics need to put aside "any partisan differences" they have on the immigration issue and come together to pray for the welfare of their brother and sister immigrants and for Congress to pass much-hoped-for comprehensive immigration reform, said Bishop David M. O'Connell of Trenton.

The drama in Texas over abortion that drew national and international attention came to an end for the moment after the state House of Representatives then the state Senate voted to adopt tougher abortion regulations. Gov. Rick Perry promised to sign the bill into law soon.

Standing up with faith communities in support of migrants who cross the border illegally has long been an interreligious effort in southern Arizona. During a five-day Social Action Summer Institute at the University of Arizona in June, Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, Archbishop Jose Ulises Macias Salcedo of Hermosillo, Mexico, and current and former leaders of Protestant, Jewish and Episcopal congregations laid out what motivates their efforts and how their communities take on different aspects of aiding and advocating for immigrants.