Although I suppose I am genetically predisposed to be, I am in fact not a photographer. My maternal grandfather was a prolific professional taker and maker of everything photographic, from thousands of school portraits to magnificent winter scenes to serene lakeside perspectives to all the necessary supplies. His name was Leo, and folks across ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After investigating Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Friday that he has referred 12 former clergy members for possible criminal prosecution.

Schmitt released a 329-page report Friday detailing his office's yearlong investigation that involved interviews with victims ...Read more

I remember the shadow of the World Trade Center, the welcome relief it brought for the businessman, his coat and tie oppressive in the summer heat. I remember beyond the walls and wrought iron fence of St. Paul's Chapel, quick-footed New Yorkers sidestepping tourists who paused to openly gaze at the towering buildings.

I remember the quiet of ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a former Northeast Philadelphia priest on new charges six years after a sexual abuse case against him fell apart when his accuser died of a heroin overdose shortly before he was due to testify in court.

According to sources familiar with the case, Robert L. Brennan, 81, formerly of ...Read more

Lost dignity. Lost hope.

The thoughts taunted the "thirty-something" couple as the economy began to wobble in 2007, eventually spiraling into the Great Recession. The two watched in alarm as their colorful life unraveled.

"The picture window was in the front and I walked by it anywhere I was going in the house," Keely Brown said, recalling her...Read more

Back in the day, for me (and maybe for some of you), a typical autumn afternoon unfolded something like this: you step out of a schoolhouse with your empty lunch box and a couple of hardback books, pile into (then out of) a musty school bus, then hustle into your house for a snack -- maybe a piece of bologna wrapped in enriched bread.

After ...Read more

MELBOURNE, Australia -- An Australian court has rejected jailed Cardinal George Pell's appeal against his conviction and he will continue to serve a six-year sentence for child sex abuse.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal in Melbourne handed down a majority two-to-one decision on Wednesday rejecting Pell's appeal and upholding the conviction....Read more

"I don't WANT to get to know HIM!"

That angry outburst came from the mother of a white football player regarding a black teammate who had become a dear friend. Her son had been pleading with her, that once she got to know his friend she would welcome him home for dinner. She responded accordingly, much to her son's dismay. The scene, as you may...Read more

"Why are you turning here?" my wife asked.

"It's a shortcut, don't worry," I assured her. "I know where I am going."

Famous last words. An hour or so later, after zigzagging through miles of orchard-covered hills, I was gritting my teeth and continuing to insist that I knew a very effective shortcut to get us to our important meeting.

"We're ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti met with Pope Francis on Friday in a private meeting at the Vatican, where they discussed climate change, youth, poverty and immigration.

Garcetti shared photographs of the visit on social media, saying in a statement he was moved by the Roman Catholic Church leader's "inspired words about matters ...Read more

Last year I wrote a Tri-City Herald column about how to turn a burden into a blessing.

It's a "one word wonder," I wrote ... changing "I have to" to "I get to." The idea is to see the blessings in what we have the opportunity to do, instead of just seeing the burdens of what we feel we must do.

I believed what I wrote then, and I believe it ...Read more