Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, the head of the U.S. bishops’ committee dealing with family life, voiced support Jan. 10 for Pope Francis’ recent remarks condemning gestational surrogacy as “a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child” and calling for a worldwide ban.

Loyola Press announced Jan. 10 it would pull from publication “60 Seconds for Jesus” by Father Jim Sichko, a priest of the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., and a papal Missionary of Mercy known for his motivational talks, generous donations and active social and mainstream media presence.

The Republican presidential primary field narrowed Jan. 10 just hours before the party’s final debate before the key Iowa Caucuses, as former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspended his campaign.

As the nation marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan. 11, women religious in the U.S. are combating modern slavery with prayer and education.

Amid an unprecedented wave of violence in Ecuador, the South American country’s bishops’ conference issued a statement on Jan. 9 asking the people to unite against the disturbance caused by criminal gangs, whose operations were defined as acts of “treason against the nation.”