NATION/WORLD

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have pulled off the making of a 10-hour miniseries, "The Bible," that gets its premiere Sunday, March 3, on the History cable channel.

The new proposed rules issued by the government regarding insurance coverage of contraceptives show movement but fall short of addressing the U.S. bishops' concerns.

Catholic institutions were still analyzing the effect of a new set of proposed rules on insurance coverage of contraceptives issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.

A day before the House of Commons was to vote on a bill on same-sex marriage, the new archbishop of Canterbury restated his opposition.

Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, told his fellow Chaldean bishops and Vatican officials, "We want to follow the example of our martyrs who gave their lives for Christ."

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will "no longer have any administrative or public duties" as retired archbishop of Los Angeles.

Exemptions from certain requirements for contraceptive coverage in the HHS Mandate will be broadened to include many more types of religious institutions.

As the six-month mark approaches in an administration program to defer deportation for some young undocumented immigrants, the pace of applications has slowed, but more than 150,000 people have been approved for the status that comes with a work permit and a Social Security number.

Arizona served as the kickoff venue for National School Choice Week Jan. 25.

A lack of faith in God can damage marriage, even to the point of affecting its validity, Pope Benedict XVI said.