MANILA, July 27, 2010— If President Aquino is sincere in combating corruption then he should prosecute even the staunch allies of former President Arroyo that jumped to his administration.

This was how Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo reacted to the pledge of Aquino clean government and by possibly prosecuting former President Arroyo for her alleged corrupt activities.

MANILA, July 27, 2010— They watched and they reacted as President Benigno Aquino III vowed to clean the government of irregularities.

On Monday afternoon, Filipinos from all walks of life in the provinces sat glued on their television sets as Aquino delivered his first State of the Nation Address (Sona).

MANILA, July 28, 2010—Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo believed that the assurance of Philhealth coverage for all Filipinos made by President Benigno Aquino III during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday is doable.

“What made me feel better is the Philhealth coverage and I think it is doable,” the prelate said.

ALTÖTTING, Germany, July 28, 2010—More than 300 Filipino Pilgrims, mostly from Germany, Austria and Switzerland made a pilgrimage to Altötting, Bavaria, Germany to venerate the Black Madonna of Altötting on July 24, 2010.

CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar leads the blessing of the CBCP online radio, July 15, 2010.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, Jul 26, 2010--St. James reminds us to be faithful to our apostolic tradition as Christians, the Archbishop of Santiago of Compostela said on Sunday as tens of thousands of pilgrims, the Monarchs of Spain and many members of the Church hierarchy flocked to the famous shrine of St. James for his feast day.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom, Jul 26, 2010--Responding to reports that people are being asked to pay a donation for free tickets to the papal Mass during Pope Benedict’s visit to Scotland, organizers have said that the fee is intended to recoup expenses for an entire parish group, not for individuals. One bishop suggested parishes have creative fundraisers to defray costs.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Jul 27, 2010--An expert on family issues reminded Mexicans last week that the defense of life is not a religious issue and that it is based on the scientific certainty that life begins at conception.

SANTIAGO, Chile, Jul 27, 2010--Bishop Alejandro Goic, president of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference, has expressed appreciation for the decision by the country’s President Sebastian Pinera to consider granting clemency to some prisoners on a case by case basis.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jul 27, 2010 / 12:12 pm (CNA).- The Archdiocese of Caracas, under the leadership of Cardinal Jorge Urosa and his auxiliary bishops, called the faithful to pray for peace between Venezuela and Colombia as tensions rise between the two countries.

MARQUETTE, Mich., Jul 28, 2010 / 03:27 am (CNA).- Following a four-month investigation, the Diocese of Marquette has closed its inquiry into an alleged miracle attributed to its first bishop, Servant of God Frederic Baraga, who is known as the “snowshoe priest.” The inquiry now proceeds to the Vatican for further consideration.

VANCOUVER, Canada, Jul 28, 2010 / 01:10 am (CNA).- With “overwhelming support,” a recent meeting of leaders in the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada (ACCC) voted to unite with the Roman Catholic Church through the Apostolic Constitution created by Pope Benedict XVI.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 27, 2010--Condemnation of "tourist marriages" is growing among Saudi Islamic experts, lawyers and doctors, a practice in vogue among Saudi men who, during their foreign trips, undertake "short-term" marriages to women of the country where they are.

BEIJING, China, July 27, 2010--The Ministry of Public Security has decided that police will no longer humiliate offenders by exposing them to public scorn, the Global Times reported.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 29, 2010--Sri Lanka’s new education minister says he has Church support for his plans to revamp and expand higher education, after recent talks with Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake on July 23 paid a courtesy call on Archbishop Ranjith.