VATICAN CITY — Benedict XVI always cast himself as the reluctant pope, a shy bookworm who preferred solitary walks in the Alps to the public glare and the majesty of Vatican pageantry. And on Monday, the Vatican announced that the leader of the world's billion Roman Catholics was stepping down — the first pontiff to do so since 1415.

A crowd of a couple hundred people took a break from shopping to pay their respects to the Virgin of Guadalupe at Mesa’s Fiesta Mall on Wednesday.

All of her young life, Eliza Andreasin has wanted to become a missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

All of her young life, Eliza Andreasin has wanted to become a missionary in the church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints.

To all who are clamoring about not providing birth control because it’s against a particular religious belief, think about this: Let’s say a religion (i.e. Catholicism, Mormonism, etc..) believes that no one should be having sex out of wedlock. Let’s say that leaders of this religion decide that since any single people who contract a venereal disease obviously are having sex out of wedlock, they’re going to refuse to cover the treatment for VD contracted by single people. How many would be in favor of denying health care and/or antibiotics to people who might die without them? It’s the same argument that’s being made over birth control. Do we really want to decide who’s entitled to health care based on religion? It’s a slippery slope people.

Save a mother’s life or save the ideals of a church? Which is more important? According to Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, the church is superior. A hospital shouldn’t be punished for doing its job — saving lives — even if it goes against the doctrines of the church. Not all people who seek treatment at Catholic hospitals are of the Catholic faith; even employees need not be Catholic. Putting everyone under one umbrella is wrong. If one goes to a hospital to be treated, it’s expected the best care is provided, not substandard care because of moral guidelines. When is it moral to leave people to die when life-saving treatment could have been provided, all because some Bishop, not directly associated with the hospital, decrees it to be left untreated? Catholic Healthcare West (now Dignity Health) and St. Joseph’s have nicely received $100 million a year from the government. Taxpayers are paying hospitals to not perform their duties? Catholic hospitals provide 15 percent of hospital beds in America, and hospital mergers are increasing these numbers. The government is paying a fair share of costs for all these hospitals. The government shouldn’t be investing taxpayers’ money into institutions that refuse to provide the care people need.

The first Roman Catholic presence in Arizona dates to 1539, when Franciscan priest Marcos de Niza explored the Southwest in his quest for the mythical seven cities of gold.

The first Roman Catholic presence in Arizona dates to 1539, when Franciscan priest Marcos de Niza explored the Southwest in his quest for the mythical seven cities of gold.

Thanksgiving is this week, but unless you're tidying up the guest room for out-of-town company, you might not know it.

“To the Venter who thinks that Catholicism keeps its members in the dark about the tenets of the faith and that Catholics worship Mary and the saints as idols: Catholics only worship God alone, and they honor Mary and the saints.”

“I read about the No Kid Hungry Pledge. Well my wife and I took it 20 years ago for our 3 grand kids. Knowing our ex son in law would be a dead beat dad, he now owes $230,000. Way to go CPS! They don’t do their job, so us taxpayers pick up the tab.”

A disturbing anti-civic infection appeared during this past election.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI confirmed Monday he would visit Britain this year, a trip that follows his move to welcome into the Roman Catholic Church groups of Anglicans upset over the ordination of gays and women.

“President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize, mmm, mmm, mmm. Well, public school teachers can create a new song for Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm. Thank God for home schooling, mmm, mmm, mmm.”

CHICAGO — Political columnist Robert Novak, who was a central figure in the Valerie Plame CIA leak case, has died after a battle with brain cancer. He was 78.

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Lawn Griffiths: Bishop Thomas Olmsted, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, is getting a letter early this week from a well-known former East Valley priest who is making a clean break from old Catholicism and has connected with Reformed Catholic traditions that recognizes female priests and open communion for all believers.

This is the first week of the baseball season, so we're trying to stay as optimistic as possible. You know us, all smiles and Slurpees. But, for the record, we aren't the ones who rained concrete down upon Angels fans on opening day.

LUANDA, Angola - Tens of thousands of Angola's Catholics lined the streets of the capital Saturday for a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI, who urged the country's faithful to reach out and convert people who believe in witchcraft.

NEW YORK - The next Roman Catholic archbishop of New York is known as a gentle enforcer of Vatican teaching — a faithful servant of Rome who can disarm his critics with his self-deprecating wit, human touch and love of a good cigar.

The young cast of the Valley’s newest holiday pageant is all atwitter. Opening night is only a week away, and for the first time, the pre-teen actors are getting a glimpse of their costumes.

The urn holding Cameron Perkins' ashes is encased in a small statuary with an angel weeping as it leans across the top. It takes up a lower shelf of a bookcase in Claire and David Perkins' comfortable Mesa home, richly decorated with bright and varied spiritual objects.