David Crary

An $850 million agreement by the Boy Scouts of America to compensate sex-abuse victims prompted outrage from some survivors and their advocates, while others were encouraged and saw it as the best outcome that could be achieved under the circumstances.

Unprecedented one-year drops in membership are due partly to the pandemic and partly to social trends that have been shrinking their ranks for decades, officials say.

U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights.