An informational slide that listed Catholicism, evangelical Christianity and other religious groups under the heading of “Religious Extremism” and was recently used in a training briefing for a group of about 100 Army Reserve soldiers has been removed from the presentation.

New Zealand’s Catholic bishops described as “bizarre” parliament’s vote that discards the understanding of traditional marriage when it approved a same-sex marriage law. The bishops also expressed sadness that the April 17 action was taken despite widespread opposition from New Zealanders.

‘They have a tremendous faith in God and a belief that he overcomes all evil and all sadness’, says Texan Priest on the inhabitants of West, Texas effected by the April 17 explosion.

Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., said the U.S. Senate’s failure “to support even modest regulations on firearms” is “a failure in moral leadership to promote policies which protect and defend the common good.”

Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary’s care.

The small town of West has been flooded with donations, disaster response teams, volunteers, news media and, perhaps most importantly, prayers since an explosion at a fertilizer plant the evening of April 17.

Pope Francis called on Venezuela’s political leaders to resolve their differences through respectful dialogue and he urged the nation’s people to reject all forms of violence as the country seeks to move ahead.

Emergency personnel were carefully combing through blocks of wreckage in this town of 2,900 a day after a chemical fertilizer factory caught fire and exploded with the force of a small earthquake April 17, injuring perhaps hundreds and killing others.

In the teaching of Pope Francis, the devil has a more dastardly agenda than just convincing people to break one of the Ten Commandments; “the enemy” wants them to feel weak, worthless and always ready to complain or gossip.

In an April 18 interfaith prayer service, religious and political leaders emphasized the enduring strength of the people of Boston and urged them to find consolation and healing in their continued support of one another.