Birmingham, England, Jul 30, 2010 / 03:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The biography written as part of Cardinal John Henry Newman's cause for canonization will be released at a conference in Birmingham, England this September. The day before the Pope's arrival in the city, several leading biographers will examine the "extraordinary man of God" and his beatification. more >>

Mexico City, Mexico, Jul 30, 2010 / 02:02 pm (CNA/Europa Press).- Local authorities have reported that a priest, Fr. Carlos Salvador Wotto, was found dead at the parish of Our Lady of the Snows in Oaxaca, Mexico. Signs of torture were evident on the priest's body. more >>

Madrid, Spain, Jul 30, 2010 / 11:58 am (CNA).- Caritas Spain recently approved a donation of $167,700 for farming aid in Peru in order to boost child nutrition in the South American country.  The money is part of an aid package totaling $537,384 for projects in countries in Africa, Asia and South America. more >>

Vatican City, Jul 30, 2010 / 11:31 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Friday, the Vatican released Pope Benedict XVI's prayer intentions for the month of August. In his intentions, the Pontiff is praying that those in serious financial need or require housing will be assisted. more >>

Washington D.C., Jul 30, 2010 / 06:03 am (CNA).- On Thursday Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) were scheduled to introduce legislation which would establish a permanent government-wide prohibition on taxpayer funding for abortion. Pro-life leaders praised the comprehensiveness of the proposal. more >>

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Jul 30, 2010 / 04:57 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Nobody could lead the Church without the assistance of God, said Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday. After seeing a film highlighting important moments in his ministry and the life of the Church from the last five years, the Pope observed that the Church is young and full of variety and that the role of the Successor of Peter is making the unity within it concrete and visible. more >>

Sydney, Australia, Jul 30, 2010 / 04:02 am (CNA).- Prayer is more than talking to God, but more specifically the opening of our heart and mind to God, Cardinal George Pell wrote in a reflection on prayer for his weekly newspaper column. more >>

Washington D.C., Jul 30, 2010 / 02:45 am (CNA).- Attorneys representing the Catholic League and Ignatius Press have filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit alleging that the California public university system has refused credit for classes that are taught from a religious perspective. The university has defended its standards' neutrality, contending that the refused courses were sub par. more >>

Albuquerque, N.M., Jul 30, 2010 / 12:16 am (CNA).- The sound of drums boomed in the background as Sr. Kateri Mitchell spoke to CNA on Wednesday about the opening of the 71st Annual Tekakwitha Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She described the gathering of nearly 800 Native Americans from around the country as an opportunity for "evangelization" among the tribes. more >>

Lima, Peru, Jul 29, 2010 / 09:55 pm (CNA).- During a Mass celebrating Peru's Independence Day, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima said the country's leaders must promote laws that protect its national identity based on the Catholic faith. more >>