Catholic Church

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican will shelter two families of refugees who are "fleeing death" from war or hunger, Pope Francis announced Sunday as he called on Catholic parishes, convents and monasteries across Europe to do the same.

STEPHENSVILLE, Wis. (AP) — A Catholic church in northeastern Wisconsin has replaced its long-standing tradition of pig wrestling at an annual event following protests last year by an animal-rights group.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The interim leader of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis celebrated his first public mass since taking over the organization last month.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — The man named interim leader of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in the wake of John Nienstedt's resignation has met with Catholic priests in the state.

ROSEAU, Minn. (AP) — A Catholic priest who pleaded guilty last month to criminal sexual misconduct has been essentially sentenced to time served.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, and a deputy bishop have resigned after prosecutors charged the archdiocese with having failed to protect children from unspeakable harm from a pedophile priest.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Authorities in Minnesota are filing criminal charges against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis over its handling of clergy sex abuse claims.

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) — An ex-priest has been acquitted on charges that he sexually abused an altar boy at a Hastings church almost 30 years ago.

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) — A former priest denies that he sexually abused an altar boy at a Hastings church almost 30 years ago.

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) — A trial is set to begin this week for a former Catholic priest charged with sexually assaulting an altar boy in Hastings from 1989 to 1991.

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Downtown Rochester will once again be the scene of an annual Good Friday event.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis plans to seek permission from a bankruptcy trustee to possibly sell properties to help pay creditors.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pope Francis will address a joint meeting of Congress on Sept. 24, House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday, a first for the leader of the world's Roman Catholics.

It appear changes are in the works for the Catholic Church in southern Minnesota.