Given the many criminal organizations and gangs worldwide that have distorted the true role and image of Mary, a pontifical academy has unveiled a new department dedicated to fighting “this deviant spirituality.”

Alison Centofante, director of external affairs at Live Action, observed: “Abortion’s not a partisan issue,” but rather is based on what science has learned about fetal development in the womb.

About 100 current and former Democratic lawmakers from several states urged the Democratic Party’s Platform Committee Aug. 14 “to moderate its official position on abortion,” saying many party leaders support abortion policies “radically out of line with public opinion.”

The prize, which is $2.5 million in unrestricted funds, also “strengthens our resolve to create a community of kinship and healing in Los Angeles,” the priest said in a statement. “All of us at Homeboy Industries are profoundly humbled by the Hilton Foundation’s recognition.”

In an exclusive interview prerecorded and aired at a U.S. conference, Cardinal George Pell reminded his audience how important the church in the U.S. is for world Catholicism and Western civilization.

Saying Nebraska is “a pro-life state,” Gov. Pete Ricketts Aug. 15 signed into law a ban on dismemberment abortions, which he said stops a “horrific procedure” and is “an important step to strengthen our culture of life.”

Thirty-three men between George Washington and John F. Kennedy served as U.S. president. Until Kennedy, all were white Anglo-Saxon Protestant men. It took 172 years for a Catholic to win the presidency.

Joe Biden’s choice of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-California, as his vice presidential running mate elicited broad smiles from key black Catholics. Others, though, started criticizing her record nearly as soon as the pick was publicized Aug. 11.

Some 300,000 people have been left homeless and more than 160 have been killed in the massive blast.

There’s Arianism, Nestorianism, semi-Pelagianism and now there’s “The Burnt Orange Heresy” (Sony).