MANILA, July 30, 2010— A group of Catholic parents who filed a class suit against the Department of Education over a sex education program in public elementary and high schools have withdrawn from the case.

Jo Imbong, the parents’ lawyer, said they decided to drop case against former Education Secretary Mona since she no longer heads the agency.

MANILA, July 30, 2010— Catholic Church officials in Bataan appealed to the government to dismantle the mothballed nuclear facility in their province.

While lauding President Aquino’s decision against the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, totally dismantling it, they said, could bring more positive reception from the people there.

MANILA, July 31, 2010—American Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. has underscored the need for Filipinos to join hands and work together to bring peace in Mindanao.

ANTIPOLO CITY, July 31, 2010—An overseas Filipino worker sentenced to death is now being starved in prison.

Angelito Zapanta, 30, who is now staying in one of the jails in Riyadh, was sentenced to death for the accidental murder of his Sudanese landlord last April 13.

MANILA, July 31, 2010—A Bible encounter has been held for the Filipino Migrant Workers at the Annunciation Parish Church in Tseun Wan, Hong Kong last July 18, 2010.

The Bible quiz intended to deepen the Gospel values and respect for life and creation of the people.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
Luke 12:13-21
August 1, 2010

By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD

ROME, JULY 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The founder of a children's protection organization laments that pedophilia only makes the news when it is linked to priests, which misses the point that it is a worldwide problem.

Father Fortunato Di Noto of the Meter association noted this deficiency in an interview with H2Onews.

CONCEPCION, Chile, Jul 29, 2010--The cathedral in Concepcion, Chile has been reopened to the faithful, five months after a devastating earthquake left it severely damaged. Reconstruction efforts, however, are far from complete and the bishop has called for assistance, especially from the local community.

CONCEPCION, Chile, Jul 29, 2010--The cathedral in Concepcion, Chile has been reopened to the faithful, five months after a devastating earthquake left it severely damaged. Reconstruction efforts, however, are far from complete and the bishop has called for assistance, especially from the local community.

WASHINGTON D.C., Jul 29, 2010--After reports recently surfaced that some of the new federally-funded high risk pool insurance programs in states across the U.S. were covering elective abortion, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement today, prohibiting the plans from covering the procedure.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Jul 30, 2010--Local authorities have reported that a priest, Fr. Carlos Salvador Wotto, was found dead at the parish of Our Lady of the Snows in Oaxaca, Mexico. Signs of torture were evident on the priest’s body.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, JULY 30, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The theology of the body is often seen as something for married couples, but many clergy and religious are finding renewal in their celibate vocations through John Paul II's teachings.

Sister Mary Elizabeth Wusinich of the Sisters of Life told ZENIT about her experience when she took a seminar with the Theology of the Body Institute.

ROME, Italy, Jul 30, 2010--An interview with former Swiss Guard Joseph Schmidt, was released this week in which he addressed the meaning behind his 15 years of service in the mid-20th century. Schmidt, who also highlighted the history of the office, died the same day the interview aired.

WASHINGTON D.C., Jul 30, 2010--On Thursday Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) were scheduled to introduce legislation which would establish a permanent government-wide prohibition on taxpayer funding for abortion. Pro-life leaders praised the comprehensiveness of the proposal.

SYDNEY, Australia, Jul 30, 2010--Prayer is more than talking to God, but more specifically the opening of our heart and mind to God, Cardinal George Pell wrote in a reflection on prayer for his weekly newspaper column.

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 30, 2010--The Churches of Jerusalem are perplexed and concerned by the municipal authorities threat to cut off water supplies to the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

MANILA, July 31, 2010— The country’s “Joan of Arc” and “Icon of Democracy” will be remembered in Sunday Masses in various Catholic churches across the country as the nation remembers the first death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino.

KIRKUK, Iraq, July 30, 2010--A group of armed men abducted a Chaldean Christian man last night in Kirkuk. Local sources told AsiaNews that Yonan (Jonas ) Daniel Mammo, 50, was closing his office in the Almas neighbourhood when three armed individuals got out of a BMW and took him.