In the Philippines, access to contraceptives is limited for the most part to those with the means to pay. The Catholic Church has fought a "reproductive health bill" in the legislature that would change that.

The former butler to Pope Benedict XVI will stand trial for stealing confidential papers and leaking them to the press, a magistrate has ruled.

Archbishop of Glasgow: Labour MP David Cairns died because he was gay

ARGENTINA’S FORMER military dictator said he kept the country’s Catholic hierarchy informed about his regime’s policy of “disappearing” political opponents, and that Catholic leaders offered advice on how to “manage” the policy.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops in session in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month. Photograph: Tami Chappell/Reuters

"Governments do not have the authority to say what marriage is or to change its nature or to decree that people of the same sex can marry."

Physicists have confirmed the ultimate speed limit for the packets of light called photons - making time travel even less likely than thought.

"The fact that I have had thousands of messages from around the world speaks for itself about the impact and the way people feel," he said.

A Jewish rabbinical court condemned to death by stoning a stray dog it feared was the reincarnation of a lawyer who insulted its judges, reports say.