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TIKRIT — More than 1,100 former fighters have reconciled with Iraqi Security and Coalition forces in the Salah ad Din province since May. Musalahah, meaning reconciliation in Arabic, is a combined effort between the Qadah level Government of Iraq, the leadership of the Iraqi Police, the 4th Iraqi Army Division and the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. By turning themselves into the Joint Coordination Centers across the province, Iraqis are seeking to clear their names. Men who are thought to have committed crimes are given a court date, so they can plead their cases before an Iraqi judge....

I do a lot of freelance writing for non-profit organizations and, frequently, while attending brainstorming sessions, I will hear the phrase "We need to 'Think Outside the Box' on this one.""Thinking Outside the Box" has become a mantra for Americans. It means to conceive ideas that are not commonplace; to one-up the competition with original creativity; to find a new path to profit that has yet to be exploited in the marketplace.In fact our society is obsessed with "Thinking Outside the Box." People continually search for new ways to entertain themselves, to feed themselves, to exercise themselves, to justify themselves,...

Advice from Fr. Philip Neri’s ConfessionalI. Starting point: 1. Sin. When we sin we abuse a gift from God. Just about every sin we commit can be traced back to a disordered use of some grace we have received from God. Abusing God’s gifts is a dangerous practice b/c it is through the charitable use of our divine gifts for others that God perfects His love us. If you are not using your gifts for the benefit of others then God’s love is not being perfected in you. 2. Forgiveness. When we ask for forgiveness we are not asking...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2008 – Security improvements have spurred reconciliation in the Madain Qada region along the Diyala and Tigris rivers in Iraq, an area that had been plagued by brutal sectarian violence, a U.S. commander there said. “We have made amazing progress along all lines of operation, but it is security that opened all the doors to allow us to get (reconciliation) going,” Army Col. Wayne Grigsby, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, said during a teleconference with online journalists and “bloggers” Jan. 25. Grigsby said his unit has conducted 166 named operations in...

Reconciliation in Iraq: Don't Hold Your Breath By Colonel Norvell B. DeAtkine, U.S. Army (Retired) The war-torn nation is a victim of its tortured history. The word "reconciliation" has become a synonym for success in Iraq. It was enshrined as the centerpiece of the 18 benchmarks imposed on the Iraqi government by domestic American political pressures, presumably to have some measure of success or failure in an unpopular conflict. The concept as enunciated in the troop surge was that the calming of Baghdad would give the Iraqi politicians time to work out the differences between the various sectarian demands. The...

Description of book: At its heart, this book is a comforting companion and helpful counselor for average Christians interacting with the law, perhaps feeling bewildered, overwhelmed, or uneasy about how their legal situations align with their Christian morals and beliefs. The book is comprehensive in scope, but written in a friendly, conversational tone. The legal topics addressed are carefully selected to cover those most likely to be encountered by regular folks in the course of their everyday lives. By presenting a practical Christian perspective informed by God's rich array of relevant scriptural wisdom, this book will release multitudes of Christian...

BAQUBA, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 28, 2007) -- Tribal leaders of Khalis and Hibhib in Diyala province held a reconciliation meeting at the Governance Center here Dec. 27. The meeting marked the end of Operation Raider Reaper, a month-long campaign conducted by the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and several companies of the Iraqi Army 5th Division. The focus of the operation was to clear al-Qaida and insurgents from Diyala province. The meeting focused on keeping the peace post-Raider Reaper, ending sectarian violence and finding a means to bring displaced families back to their homes. Every...

ASSIRIYAH — Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks, local government leaders, senior Iraqi Army officials and local Iraqi Police officials from throughout the Taji area recently met at the Prayer Town Hall to continue reconciliation efforts and celebrate the “awakening”—a term used to describe a turning away from sectarianism and violence. More than 200 attendees from the villages of Hor Al Bosh, Sheik Ahmer, Shat Al Taji, Falahat and other areas dined as they discussed issues affecting their villages and ways in which they can improve the quality of life for the people living there. “They decided to have a Sawa...

NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 Title: RECONCILIATION TAKES CENTER STAGE ACROSS MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - CENTER Release Date: 12/6/2007 Release Number: 07-01-03P Description: CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – The number of Iraqi-led reconciliation efforts swelled over the past two weeks across Multi-National Division – Center as local Iraqi leaders seek to capitalize on an improved security situation by developing the institutions that will enable long-term stability. With Coalition Forces and Iraqi Concerned Local Citizens working increasingly in tandem with the Iraqi Police and Army...

CAMP STRIKER — One of the most prominent sheiks in southern Baghdad recently hosted a high-level reconciliation conference at his home. Sheik Khalif Haloos invited Sunni and Shia sheiks, Iraqi government officials and military leaders to his personal residence in Sadr al-Yusufiyah. Haloos asked the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment from the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to support this meeting by providing assistance with security. Approximately 2,000 tribal and sub-tribal sheiks and members were invited to discuss their solidarity to rid their areas of insurgents, establish essential services and to establish a plan for future prosperity. The...

Nathan Ritzo: Leaders meet to boost reconciliation efforts in Iraq By NATHAN RITZO Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 Iraqi Shi'ite and Sunni leaders reached out to each other in the District of Taji on Nov. 8 to discuss the future of northern Baghdad Province. The conference was part of the "Taji Awakening," an historic political reconciliation between Iraqi Shi'ites and Sunnis in the region. Shi'ite and Sunni tribal leaders from across Iraq met with officials from the Iraqi government, military and security forces to discuss expanding the new alliance between Iraq's Shi'ite and Sunni communities to combat Al Qaeda's presence in...

Tribal leaders from the northern Diyala River Valley swear on a reconciliation agreement following a meeting at Forward Operating Base Fallock, an Iraqi Army base, Oct. 8. Approximately 70 leaders from Muqdadiya and the surrounding areas gathered to discuss uniting in the fight against terrorism and the way ahead. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Serena Hayden 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs. BAGHDAD — The Tamimi and Jibouri tribes, the two largest tribes in Iraq’s Diyala province, met Oct. 24 to discuss the importance of reconciliation and signed a fellowship agreement stressing cooperation and friendship between the...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2007 – A remarkable parade in Iraq’s Anbar province, openly attended by citizens from all walks of life, demonstrates that Iraqi reconciliation efforts are working, a coalition commander said today. “Out in al Anbar, which you know has been a difficult area about six months ago: a total change,” Army Brig. Gen. Dave Phillips told online journalists and bloggers during a conference call from Baghdad. “When they say there is an awakening, I think that's almost an understatement.” Phillips, deputy commanding general for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, said he personally attended an event earlier this...

MUQDADIYA — Approximately 70 tribal leaders, representing 25 tribes from areas throughout the northern Diyala RiverValley, met at an Iraqi Army base in Muqdadiya to discuss the way ahead and the need to unite in the fight against terrorism, Oct. 8. "The solution to security in Diyala is reconciliation," said Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of Coalition forces in Diyala province. The meeting was organized by the Director General of Tribal Affairs; the Muqdadiya mayor, Mayor Najem Abdullah Ahmed, the leader of the Iraqi Islamic Party in Diyala, Hamdi Hassoun al-Zubaidi, and a key tribal leader in Muqdadiya, Ali Hamid...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2007 – There is encouraging evidence of political reconciliation in Iraq despite legislative stalls on key issues, including oil revenue sharing, the top U.S. military commander there said here today. (Video) Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today that an oil revenue-sharing law has been proposed in Iraq’s Council of Representatives, but no legislation that governs the disbursement of the country’s lucrative resource has been passed. “But Iraq is actually sharing oil revenue. … In fact, (it is) very similar to what is likely to happen...

BAQUBAH — In an effort to build upon the recent success of the Aug. 19 reconciliation agreement between more than 80 leaders from the Diyala River Valley, approximately 40 tribal leaders recently gathered at the Baqubah Government Center to continue their discussions about the importance of reconciliation. The leaders, both Sunni and Shia, represented multiple tribes throughout the Diyala River Valley, with emphasis placed on tribes from Abu Sayda and Mukiesha – two villages that have not worked together in over a year due to tribal infighting. The meeting, hosted by Ra’ad Hameed Al-Mula Jowad Al-Tamimi, Diyala’s governor, allowed the...

The indications are modest, but consistent. The latest one comes from Loreto, where twelve thousand young people received the sacrament of forgiveness, with the pope's encouragement. And in the seminaries, there's a return of books for studying "cases of conscience" ROMA, September 6, 2007 – During the two-day meeting between Benedict XVI and the young people who flocked to Loreto by the hundreds of thousands from Italy and from many other countries, something happened that was unexpected in terms of its intensity and breadth: mass participation in the sacrament of confession. Between Saturday, September 1, and Sunday, September 2, in...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2007 – The U.S. provincial reconstruction team in Iraq’s Diyala province is working to connect provincial leaders with Iraq’s central government and foster reconciliation in an area where security is still challenging, the team’s leader said today. The PRT, which was established in April 2006, includes about 46 military and civilian members from various government agencies who work directly with the provincial government, John Melvin Jones said during a conference call with online journalists and “bloggers.” The team’s biggest challenge right now is getting enough involvement in Diyala from other agencies, because the security situation isn’t stable,...

It has been 4 months since my last confession. After each confession I come out thinking, "I am going to do a monthly confession." And then a few months go by and here I am. I finally had to schedule "Confession" on my calendar to ensure I would get in there. I decided to read up on the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance/Confession at New Advent. It is good to read what they have to say. Here are a few bullets that jumped out at me. While this sacrament as a dispensation of Divine mercy facilitates the pardoning of sin, it by...

Tribes unite to eliminate terrorists. By Multi-National Division–North Public Affairs TIKRIT, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2007 — Eighteen paramount tribal leaders representing 14 of the major tribes in Diyala province, Iraq, swore on the Quran and signed a peace agreement unifying the tribes in the battle against terrorism during a meeting at the Baqubah Government Center Aug. 2. "Let’s build this tent and live under it like one family – all the tribes and all the people of Diyala. You have to be one family." Ra’ad Hameed Al-Mula Jowad Al-Tamimi, governor of Diyala The meeting, led by Ra’ad Hameed Al-Mula Jowad...

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers: True story: Many years ago I was at the cathedral in San Diego for confession. I told the unseen (and now long deceased) priest my sins and waited for his counsel. What I got was: "Why are you wasting my time?" "Pardon me, Father?" I said, thinking I had misheard him. "I asked why are you wasting my time? You had only venial sins to confess. You can have venial sins forgiven by saying an act of contrition or during the penitential rite at Mass. So why are you wasting my time?" Uncharacteristically, I was...

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2007 – While all eyes are focused on the surge of U.S. troops into Baghdad, a top military commander stressed today that military force alone cannot solve the problems of the country. “While security is important and creating stability for the Iraqi people remains paramount, success cannot be achieved without those diplomatic, political and economic endeavors that also make progress,” said Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq. “Therefore, it must be a combination of all of those for us to be successful.” Reconciliation is key to peace in the country. The general estimated...

BAGHDAD, April 20, 2007 – The United States is committed to the success of the fledgling Iraqi government, but not to the indefinite use of American troops to secure Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. “The United States sees Iraq as an important regional ally and a vital partner in the global war on terrorism,” Gates said in a news conference at the Iraq Ministry of Defense, in Baghdad’s heavily fortified International Zone. “Our commitment to Iraq is long-term, but it is not a commitment to have our young men and women patrolling Iraq’s streets open-endedly.”...

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2007 – The government of Iraq took a step toward national reconciliation April 2 when it opened criminal cases against a Sunni and a Shiite man accused of “crimes against the Iraqi people,” a coalition legal official said. Army Col. Mark Martins, a staff judge advocate for Multinational Force Iraq and legal advisor to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, MNF-I commander, told online journalists yesterday that the Iraqi government demonstrated its ability to put aside revenge politics by taking definitive action against an alleged Sunni al Qaeda operative and a Shiite national policeman accused of torturing...

MESSAGE FOR ALL CATHOLICS:“JESUS IS IN THE CONFESSIONAL” Despite evil’s attempts at discrediting Catholic Priests, many fallen-away Catholics will soon be returning to the practice of their faith.  The reason: the Church’s new feast on the Sunday after Easter.  What new feast you might say?  It is the “Feast of Divine Mercy”.  The Catholic Church has been celebrating this feast ever since the Vatican had made it official on April 30th in the Jubilee year 2000.  Why would every Catholic want to come back, you might ask?  It is the promise that Jesus Himself made for a complete forgiveness...

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI, performing a key priestly duty, entered one of the confessionals of St. Peter's Basilica to hear the confessions of various young people from the Diocese of Rome. It marked the culminating moment of today's penitential service over which the Pope presided to prepare for the diocesan-level World Youth Day, to be held Sunday in Rome. In a basilica filled with young men and women, about 200 priests -- some seated on chairs because there were not enough confessionals -- administered the sacrament of reconciliation. While the confessions were being heard, the choir...

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned."The words which usually serve as the opening to confession, a sacrament in the Catholic Church, are being heard more by local priests these days. The reason - confession seems to be making a comeback.Although fewer people sought absolution in the post-Vatican II era, it appears as though confession, also known as the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation, is on the rise in the Diocese of San Bernardino. The Sacrament of Penance allows Catholics to confess their sins to a priest through a screen in a small closed confessional, under cover of darkness. They...

SAN ANTONIO — Archbishop Jose Gomez only has to recall his childhood in Mexico to recognize that people don’t go to confession like they used to.“In Latin America, it’s part of the culture,” said the Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas. “When I was a kid, the priests would hear confessions on first Thursdays from 4 to 10 p.m. In the U.S., people won’t dare to look for a priest in the confessional unless it’s in the bulletin.”But things may be changing. Signs abound that confession is making a comeback:• In the Chicago Archdiocese, St. Mary’s Church in Lake Forest, Ill.,...

Since it is Lent again, and many of you are (I hope) determined to develop the good practice of making a regular and frequent confession.  It is therefore opportune to repost my 20 Tips for Making a Good Confession.  They have been zipping around the internet for years, but some of you may not have seen them yet. Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession We should…   1) ...examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;   2) ...wait our turn in line patiently;   3) ...come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they...

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 19, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The baptized need to rediscover the sacrament of reconciliation so that they can experience "the boundless renewing power of divine love," says Benedict XVI. The Pope said this today when receiving in audience Cardinal James Stafford, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, with the prelates and officials of that tribunal, as well as the penitentiary fathers of the patriarchal basilicas of Rome. "In the gesture of absolution, uttered in the name and on account of the Church, the confessor becomes the conscious means of a wonderful event of grace," the Holy Father said in...

The Early Church Fathers taught that Christ passed on His authority to forgive sins to His priests.The Didache Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . , On the Lord's Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure (Didache 4:14,14:1 [A.D.70]).The Letter of BarnabasYou shall judge righteously. You shall not make a schism, but you shall pacify those that contend by bringing them together. You shall confess your sins. You shall not...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. (National Catholic Reporter) – Lyn Woods, a middle-aged Catholic woman who teaches ceramics at the Southwest School of Art & Craft in San Antonio, said that, although she goes to church, she hasn’t been to confession in many years. She says her childhood experience of the sacrament of reconciliation explains much of her adult attitude toward it today. “When I was 7, 8 or 9 years old,” she said, “I found myself repeating the same sins over and over to the priest. It seemed to me they weren’t really sins but simply human nature. On the other...

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The new Democrat speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), made a surprise visit to Baghdad where she urged Iraqi leaders to pursue political solutions to end spiraling sectarian violence. But US and Iraqi officials announced tough new tactics to starve sectarian violence of outside support with US forces now targeting Iranian agents in Iraq for capture or killing. Despite US and Iraqi efforts to increase security in the capital, bombers on Friday killed 15 people in Baghdad's famous pet market. Pelosi, 66, the first female Speaker of the House who...

St. Ephraim the Syrian: On Repentance Grant forgiveness, O Lord, send also strength. Convert me, that I might live in sanctity, according to Thy holy will. Sanctify my heart that has become a den and dwelling-place of demons. I am unworthy to ask forgiveness for myself, O Lord, for many times have I promised to repent and proved myself a liar by not fulfilling my promise. Thou hast picked me up many times already, but every time I freely chose to fall again. Therefore I condemn myself and admit that I deserve all manner of punishment and torture. How many...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2006 -- The Iraq national reconciliation conference held Dec. 16 in Baghdad was only the first of many such meetings that will serve to "enlarge the circle of reconciliation," said Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. Al-Dabbagh and the coalition spokesman, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, discussed the reconciliation conference among other topics during a joint news conference in Baghdad on Dec. 17. The conference brought together representatives from all ethnic and sectarian factions in Iraq. “There will be more conferences which will include the groups and individuals who didn't have the opportunity to take part...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2006 -- Iraq could be “the most significant power in the region” if the coalition can help the Iraqi government to stabilize the country and improve its economy, the commander of maneuver forces in Iraq said today. “In order for these things to succeed, however, we need a commitment by all Iraqis of all the ethno-sectarian groups to commit first to nonviolence and to resolving their differences through the political process,” said Army Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, outgoing commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said from Baghdad via satellite link with Pentagon reporters. Chiarelli has been...

HONOLULU - Sixty-five years ago, Takeshi Maeda and John Rauschkolb tried to kill each other at Pearl Harbor. This week, now both 85, they met face-to-face for the first time — and shook hands. The Japanese veteran gripped Rauschkolb's arm with his left hand and briefly hesitated, as if he was searching for the right words. Then he said, "I'm sorry." On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese Imperial Navy navigator Maeda guided his Kate bomber to Pearl Harbor and fired a torpedo that helped sink the USS West Virginia. Rauschkolb, a Navy signalman, stood on the West Virginia's port side as...

BEND — Choosing as I have to focus some additional energies on the Sacrament of Penance, I could not help but be struck and attracted by the L’Osservatore Romano headline of Oct. 18: “Time spent in the confessional reveals the merciful Face of the Father.” L’Osservatore Romano is the official weekly newspaper of the Vatican. The headline refers to the remarks of Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops’ Conference of Canada who were in Rome for their ad limina visit. After offering a brief reflection on the Parable of the Prodigal Son the Holy Father writes: “Dear Brothers, as you...

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the canonization ceremony of Italian nun Rosa Venerini, Mexican bishop Rafael Guizar, Italian priest Filippo Smaldone and Indiana nun Theodore Guerin in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, October 15, 2006. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito Catholic schismatics see return to Roman fold soon By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor PARIS (Reuters) - After almost two decades of schism, Catholic traditionalists hope the Vatican will soon take them back into the fold by granting two key concessions and leaving unresolved the main issue that drove them away. Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), says...

Pope Benedict XVI has received Muslim envoys in his summer residence in Vatican on September 25. The Pontific has called for an inter-religious dialog. The meeting is being held on the days of Ramadan, so regulations of the Muslim holiday are carefully observed at the meeting. There is even no...

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- An al-Qaida-affiliated group Thursday branded the Iraqi government offers of reconciliation as "futile'' and called on Sunnis to fight those who "legalized the shedding of Muslim blood.'' The statement appeared on a Web site used by the Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organization of Sunni extremist groups that includes al-Qaida in Iraq. The statement said Sunnis in Iraq were facing aggressive attacks by the government and the Shiite militias and called for resistance. "The Shiite attacks on the Sunni people have been intensified these days especially in the northern parts of the capital which included mortar...

Violence Decreases in Iraq, Reconciliation ProgressesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2006 – Violence in Baghdad has decreased over the past five weeks, and the Iraqi government is committed to reconciliation, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Iraq's Deputy President Adil al-Mahdi said here today. Following a meeting at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld and al-Mahdi spoke about progress in Iraq with reporters. The secretary praised the work of Iraqi security forces, which he said now number more than 267,000. He said there has been a reduction in the levels of violence and in the numbers of attacks, particularly in areas...

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2006 – Increasing violence in Baghdad is due to sectarian tensions, and the solution to the problem will involve more than increased security forces, a Defense Department spokesman said here today. The U.S. will be shifting more forces into Baghdad to stem the violence, but Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's reconciliation plan and government activities are just as important in resolving the situation, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. "It's a more holistic approach in how you deal with the situation that has developed in Baghdad," he said. A sharp increase in civilian casualties in Baghdad can be...

by Fr. William Saunders Other Articles by Fr. William Saunders How to Go to Confession 7/21/2006 I admit I have not been to confession in many years and am no longer sure I know how to properly avail myself of the sacrament. Would you please review how one should go to confession? A person should always begin with a good examination of conscience. We need to hold up our lives to the pattern of life God has revealed for us to live. For instance, we take time to reflect on the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the precepts of the Church and...

The following article was written by Father J. Patrick Serna for Catholic Men's Quarterly. It is reprinted with permission from Father Serna and the editor and publisher of CMQ. (For subscription information, please visit www.houseonthemoor.com.) A Son Becomes a Father by Father J. Patrick Serna In order to make my high school football coach fly off the handle, all one had to do was make an excuse for a failed block, missed tackle, or imperfect execution. If Coach Slaughter sensed that an excuse was about to blossom, he would shout a dictum which should be etched in the mind...

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2006 – The national reconciliation and dialogue plan announced June 25 by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is the beginning of a healing process for the country of Iraq and its people, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said today. "The prime minister launched a process by which all Iraqis can heal, the nation can mend, and the future can be written in the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people," Army Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell said in a news conference from Iraq. Maliki's initiative includes all Iraqi citizens and is based in economic policies that foster opportunity...

Iraqi Sunni Group Backs Reconciliation Jun 27, 9:10 AM (ET) By BUSHRA JUHI BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - One of Iraq's largest Sunni Arab groups endorsed the prime minister's national reconciliation plan on Tuesday, and the government announced new benefits to help freed detainees return to normal lives. The political moves came a day after bombs killed at least 40 people at markets in two Iraqi cities, while key lawmakers said seven Sunni Arab insurgent groups offered the government a conditional truce. A suicide car bomb also struck a busy gas station in the northern city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, killing...

At its national convention beginning June 13, the church is expected to approve a resolution expressing regret for supporting slavery and segregation. But the debate will likely get more heated when a second resolution comes up, calling for a study of possible reparations for black Episcopalians.

Jews, Catholics plan friendship memorial May. 30, 2006 at 10:14AM Poland's Catholic church has agreed to turn the house where the late Pope John Paul II was born into a memorial of the Jewish-Catholic friendship. During his four-day stay in Poland, the German-born Pope Benedict XVI Saturday paid a brief stop in Wadowice, the birthplace of his predecessor and mentor John Paul II, to enter and bless the house, the Washington Post reported. Some 20 years ago the house was turned into a museum. About 200,000 pilgrims from Poland and around the world annually visit the site, containing memorabilia of...

Reuters - Sun May 28, 3:47 PM ET Survivors of Auschwitz watch as Pope Benedict XVI pays respect by the death wall as he visits the former Auschwitz death camp May 28, 2006. Calling himself 'a son of Germany,' Pope Benedict prayed at the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz on Sunday and asked why God was silent when 1.5 million victims, mostly Jews, died in this 'valley of darkness.' REUTERS/Peter Andrews German-born Pope Benedict XVI walked alone under the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate at the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau as he began a poignant visit...