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Announces that the economics department of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana has split into two separate but unequal bodies. Names of the new departments of economics; Reason why the separation was important, according to proponents; Issue on the ranking of leading journals.

Focuses on the offer of the U.S. diocese for a tuition-free education in Catholic schools. Emphasis on religious education; Extension of help for families who struggle to pay the rising cost of sending their children to Catholic schools; Commitment of diocese to meet the needs of schools.

Reports that a group of U.S. and British Church leaders told U.S. President George W. Bush the non-applicability of 'Just War' criteria on the U.S. war on Iraq. Other events held in Washington D.C. and Detroit against the war; Comments of various church workers on the futility of war, in their lobbying efforts; Acts of civil disobedience in different states in the U.S.

Reports that Charlotte Carson, a Catholic member of the peace organization International Solidary Movement, was arrested by Israeli police on May 9, 2003. Background on Israeli police crackdown on foreign peace activists who are accused of having links with Palestinian suicide bombers.

Reports on a conference sponsored by a committee Common Ground Initiative dealing with the identity and ministry of the men at the center of clergy sexual abuse crisis and challenges faced by priests in the crisis. List of Catholic leaders who took part in the conference; Remembrance of Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb during the conference; Difficulty of ministry in choosing a way of life while not getting caught in a career mentality.

Reports on the dialogue between Buddhists and Catholic bishops in California. Topics discussed by the bishops; Organization that sponsored the meeting.

Reports on the encouragement of the Episcopal Bishops of New England to work for environmental protection and stewardship. Role of Christians in protecting the environment; Threats of global warming; End of fall-foliage tourism; Destruction of the region's maple sugar industry; Forms of environmental protection initiatives.

Reports on a joint Muslim-Catholic dialogue in Orange County, California that focused on issues of peace, justice and forgiveness. Comments of Muslims and Catholics who attended the meeting.

Relates news developments regarding the search for the remains of U.S.-born Catholic priest James Carney who died in Honduras in the early 1980s. Identification of the remains found believed to be that of Carney; Information from witnesses to the last moments of Carney's life; Delays to the investigation by the U.S. and Honduras governments.

Reports that Zimbabwe Catholic archbishop Pius Ncube was questioned by national intelligence officers after leading a prayer service for the victims of torture and violence.

Reports that Indiana-based Marion Superior Court judge David Dreyer temporarily blocked an informed consent law that mandates counseling for women who are considering abortions.

Reports on the third installment of the yearlong weekly advertising campaign about Islam in the U.S. Aim to stem the 'rising tide' of anti-Muslim rhetoric in America.

Presents the observation of a leader of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Holy Cross Brother David Andrews, that rural poverty is on the rise in the United States, with fewer resources available to help scattered populations in farming communities.

Reports on the warning made by Philippine Catholic bishops that Catholics who remain Freemasons face excommunication. Approval of a final draft of the declaration by the bishops.

Focuses on the Council on American-Islamic Relations' call for the U.S. government to rescind a Federal Bureau of Investigation initiative to develop profile of local areas.

Reports that a group of psychologists and victims' rights advocates have criticized Bishop Richard Lennon, leader of the Boston archdiocese of Massachusetts, for permitting church attorneys to depose the therapists of alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse. Claim that such tactics is a revictimization of patients who were already abused by the clergy; Similar disappointment over Kathleen McChesney of the Office of Child and Youth Protection for supporting the decision to depose the therapists.

Reports that Christians and Muslims from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have issued an appeal to remove nuclear weapons from South Asia and to ban missile programs throughout the region. Presentation of the appeal during the South Asia People Summit held in Pakistan in January 2003.

Reveals that a growing number of international and U.S. national religious leaders are opposing the war against Iraq. Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu; Pastor Donald Greenhalgh; Bishop Frank Griswold III.

Reports that Dallas, Texas-based law firm Demarest, Smith, Giunta & Howell and the Survivors First church activist group have independently collected reports of sexual abuse by priests. List of names of priests accused of abuse; Information resources of the groups.

Reveals the persistence of daily killing of children in Honduras, according to a report by Casa Alianza.

Presents a career history of the cardinal of Boston, Massachusetts, Bernard Law who resigned on December 13, 2002 following charges of mishandling sexually abusive priests in his diocese. Educational and ecclesiastical background of Law; Participation of Law in civil rights and anti-abortion movements; Criticism of Law for his relationship with the president of the U.S. George W. Bush and his support for Vatican.

Reports on the prayers held by the Catholics in Lebanon and Iraq for the intercession of the "Little Flower" in preventing war in the region, as the relics of Saint Thérè se of Lisieux were about to be transferred from Lebanon to Iraq. Reason behind the transfer of the relics; Estimated number of Catholics in Iraq.

Reports on the efforts of several parishes in Illinois based Chicago archdiocese, to hold special prayer services before Christmas to support efforts against possible military action by the U.S. against Iraq. Letter issued by the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

Reports on a survey released on November 21, 2002 by the Arab American Institute and Americans for Peace on views of Arab and Jewish Americans regarding the right of Palestinians and Israelis for having their own independent states. Details of the survey; Information on views of the president of Arab American Institute James Zogby.

Reports that a court in Guatemala has suspended an appeals court decision challenging the conviction of military officers and priests for the murder of Auxiliary bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera. Imprisonment punishments received by the accused; Petitioner of the appeal.

Presents information on the apology demanded by Catholics for the death of two girls killed by a U.S. military vehicle in South Korea. Place of accident; Particulars of the deceased girls.

Focuses on the reactions of Catholic nuns in the U.S. on sexual abuse policy and war against Iraq. Opposition against a sex abuse policy that applies a zero tolerance to cases involving sexual abuse of a minor; Need to bring changes in the decision making of the church; Opposition of the military strike against Iraq.

Reports that bishops in Germany have decided to dismiss church employees who take advantage of a law allowing homosexuals to enter into registered partnerships. Response of German bishops to this law; Criticism of the bishops's decision to impose a ban on church employees entering into registered partnerships by the German Gay and Lesbian Association; Legality of discrimination based on religious beliefs in Germany.

Reports that families have occupied land owned by an archdiocese in eastern Indonesia. Belief of people on land belonging to their ancestors; Need to implement strict government measures against the settlers.

Reports the comment of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on the killing of civilians in an Israeli missile attack in Gaza City. Unacceptance of the killing of civilians; Consideration of the death of children as an obstacle to peaceful coexistence; Casualties of the missile attack; Claims of Israeli government officials on the attack.

Reports the call of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for Congress to expand the abortion exemptions stipulated in the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act to hospitals and health care plans. Provisions of the federal law on health care entities that refuse to provide health services; Criticism of bishops on the efforts to make Catholic hospitals provide abortion services.

Focuses on the possible reforms in church in the U.S. Agreement between both the representatives of liberal and conservative points of view about the need for involvement of the laity in the church; Problems related to the church.

Reports that many Latin American youths intending to attend World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, are being denied Canadian visas. Reasons for the denial; Efforts made by youths in different countries to participate in the event.

Reports that three Minneapolis, Minnesota nuns were jailed May 20, 2003 for acts of civil disobedience committed in November 2001 at a weapons manufacturing plant. Name of the nuns; Protest by activists against the court order.

Reports on the meeting of farm workers for lodging their complaints against working conditions and wages at restaurant chain Taco Bell Corp. with officials at the international headquarters in Irvine, California. Highlights of the rally organizes by workers; Concerns related to tomato growers, that were raised by supporters; Refusal of the chain to interfere with labor disputes of other companies.

China has rearrested underground Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding, Hebei, China, according to the U.S. based Cardinal Kung Foundation. The foundation that supports the underground Catholic Church in China, said March 24 that Jia was arrested March 20, four days before the beginning of Holy Week. Details of the bishop's arrest and his whereabouts are not known. Jia, 67, was ordained a bishop in 1980 and has spent about 20 years in jail. In the past few years, Jia has been taken away by government officials on the eve of major holy days, apparently to prevent him from leading Catholics in liturgical celebrations.

Although the stated purpose of a new bill in the U.S. Congress is to assure emergency contraception for sexual assault victims, its real aim seems to be to pursue the narrow agenda of the pro-abortion lobby, according to Michael D. Place, the president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association. He said that agenda is focused on eroding the protection of human life by defining life as beginning only with implantation and infringing on the religious freedom of Catholic health care and others of good will who wish to care for women and others in accord with their beliefs or deeply held values.

Reports that a coalition of religious groups is urging the U.S. Congress to pass the campaign finance reform bill. Aim of the bill; Soft-money contributions to political parties; Regulation of advertisements in the days leading to elections; Opposition to the bill by the political parties.

Reports on recommendations of Vatican City officials for international observers in Jerusalem during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine as of February 8, 2002. Role of the observers in promoting peace among the two countries; Response of Israeli government to the recommendations.

Reports on the leave taken by pastor of Saint Louis, Maurice Nutt following investigations into sexual abuse charges against him. Response of Nutt to the charges; Allegations made against Nutt.

Reports on the critical condition of the U.S. labor priest, George G. Higgins, following a surgery. Previous positions and engagements of Higgins; Narration of Higgins' activities before falling ill by his sister Bridget Doonan.

Reports that the U.S. ambassador to China, Clark Randt has urged the Chinese government for the release of a bishop and others on humanitarian and medical grounds. Charges against Catholic bishop, James Su Zhemin; Grounds of arrest of Hong Kong businessman, Lai Kwong-keung; Other prisoners whose release was sought by the ambassador.

Reports on the conviction of a former priest John J. Geoghan on charges of sexual abuse by Middlesex Superior Court in Massachusetts. Testimony by the victim of abuse; Statement given by the witness Alfred C. Hughes, New Orleans' archbishop; Release of information in church records regarding previous allegations on Geoghan; Reactions by other priests and general people on the allegations.

Reports on the launching of the investigation into the case of a schoolteacher who presided the public burning of a New Testament book by the Israel Ministry of Education. Denunciation of the event by Education Minister Limor Livnat; Objective of the schoolteacher in burning the books.

Reports on the forced resignation of dean Ralph William Franklin from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Discovery on the personal use of university funds by Franklin; Implementation of the forced resignation by the school board of trustees.

Reports on the views of Pope John Paul II on the effect of terrorism on the campaign against hunger and peace campaign in Vatican City. Consideration of hunger as a major injustice; Promotion of conflict among nations by hunger.

Reports on the announcement of the decline in the number of priestly vocations by bishop Richard C. Hanifen in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Request of Hanifen for Catholics to pray for the reduction in the number of priests; Consequences of priest shortage.

Reports on the disapproval of priest Eliseo Mercado of the just war theory in the Philippines. Appreciation of the Christian message of nonviolence; Principle of proportionality; Costs of war.

Reports on the occurrence of agricultural terrorism in the U.S. Sabotage of the food supply; Apprehension of biological attacks against livestocks.

Reports on the abduction of missionary priest Giuseppe Pierantoni in the Philippines. Warning received by the bishop Zacharias C. Jimenez regarding the plans of kidnapping a foreign priest; Type of firearm used by the abductors.