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American Catholics like what they're hearing from Pope FrancisPope Francis said in an interview this week that the Catholic Church's emphasis needs to turn from sexual issues to the ‘freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.’ Polls show most American Catholics agree.
Pope Francis signals remarkable shift in priorities for CatholicsPope Francis said in an interview released Thursday that the Catholic Church's emphasis needs to turn from sexual issues to the ‘freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.’
Starbucks says 'no guns, please.' Is cultural powerhouse inviting trouble?Starbucks, whose shops were adopted by gun-rights activists as high-profile places to stage their protests, is taking out ads asking their gun-toting patrons to leave their weapons at home. Please.
Facebook mystery: How did Rehtaeh Parsons image end up on dating ad?An image of Rehtaeh Parsons, a Canadian teen who committed suicide in April, appeared in an ad on Facebook for a dating website. Facebook responded quickly, but questions remain.
US poverty rate steady at 15 percent, but 'lower class' is boomingThe recession-induced slide in income and rise in poverty appear to have flattened out, new census data show. Still, an ‘extraordinary’ share of Americans now describe themselves as ‘lower class.’
FocusLegal marijuana: Will most states head that way?Speculation is afoot after the Justice Department signaled it will mostly leave to states the responsibility to regulate use. Washington State and Colorado are already working out details of legal marijuana.
Nina Davuluri wins Miss America, then faces critics, in Bollywood styleNina Davuluri win is a tribute to her joyful performance and marks the growing visibility and cultural influence of Indian-Americans. Of criticism that she is, somehow, not American, she says: 'I have to rise above that.'
New York's 9/11 generation: how attack shaped city's childrenEven as images of 9/11 recede into annual memorials and distant memories, the attacks can still have an impact on the everyday rhythms of city life. It can be especially poignant for the newest generation of adults.
FocusFace of US poverty: These days, more poor live in suburbs than in citiesThe rise in suburban poverty reflects long-term demographic shifts – America is more than ever a suburban nation – as well as economic changes.
Molly: what clubgoers say about the drug – and why officials are worriedMolly has been tentatively linked to at least four deaths at East Coast gatherings in the past two weeks. Despite the deaths, some in the electronic dance music scene are unapologetic about the use of Molly.
- Progress WatchUS teen births fall to historic low: what has been helping
The US teen birth rate is down in all 50 states, and among all racial and ethnic groups, according to data released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hollywood's 'disappointing' summer sets box office recordSummer 2013 didn't generate too much buzz at the box office, but it did generate a record amount of money. Call it Hollywood's summer of not-quite-blockbusters.
White greeters only? Church apologizes for pastor's requestWhite greeters only? That's what a black pastor in Charlotte, N.C., requested. But church leaders quickly apologized for the "white greeters only" email. What does it take to be a church greeter?
Hazing update: FAMU band back in action after student's deathFlorida A&M's Marching 100 returns to the field Sunday for the first time since the 2011 death of the band's drum major during a hazing ritual. The tragedy sparked a broad crackdown on hazing on campuses, but the tradition is proving to be hard to eradicate.
Hollywood's next big thing: religionHollywood is turning to the Bible for an array of new films and television shows. The success of 'The Bible' miniseries and 'The Passion of the Christ' suggest that religion could bring big bucks.
King's 'dream' still unfulfilled for black job-seekersThe 1963 March on Washington called for jobs as well as freedom, and the African-American jobless rate, while it has varied over time, is still double that for whites.
Where King once stood, will Obama close arc of the 'Dream' speech?Obama's very presidency and his speech Wednesday mark a poignant moment in the history of race relations. But it's also clear that King's agenda is unfinished, as a large black underclass struggles with dim economic prospects and as hopes for racial reconciliation sour.
Miley Cyrus, twerking, and the 'sexual hazing' of American pop starsThe vision of Miley Cyrus twerking on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards might have caused outrage, but such performances have become a rite of passage for young female artists.
'Bradley' or 'Chelsea' – What to call Pvt. Manning?The US Army private convicted of espionage in the WikiLeaks case says the name is now 'Chelsea Manning.' That's set off a debate over how to refer to transgender people.
March on Washington: Why is Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'dream' only half-realized?March on Washington: An event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I have a dream speech' was held at the Lincoln Memorial Saturday. How much racial progress has been made since Dr. King's speech?
