Francis of Assisi is among the most beloved saints of the Church. In taking the name Francis, the new pope has signaled to the world something of his intentions for his papacy.

Nothing is "more important" than refocusing the Church's ministry on global poverty and, at the same time, changing the Church's overt style and deep-seated culture from one that glorifies the rituals and realities of power to a style of humility and culture of service.

VATICAN CITY, March 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has attempted to dissuade Argentines from making costly trips to Rome for his inaugural Mass next we...

The president knows transformational change requires effective organization. He learned that lesson well in inner city Chicago 30 years ago. There is no reason his efforts today cannot transform and unite the Catholic and public innovations aimed at helping those most in need.

Leader of the Catholic Worker movement, Dorothy Day was a realist and she knew that people reflexively regard saints as plaster-cast paragons of perfection. But Dorothy Day also loved the saints, venerated the saints, and wrote more than once that "we are all called to be saints."

It was an exciting time. It was also a dangerous time, a time of great personal tension and deep spiritual struggle.

For decades I prayed that the Catholic Church would evolve, but not anymore. Now I'm holding out for a schism. We'll be the Social Justice Catholic Church and they can be the Conservative Catholic Church.

Mitt Romney's latest TV ad, featuring Blessed John Paul II and Lech Wałęsa, got one thing right. The former pope and son of Poland did say "Be not afraid" in 1979. Beyond that, however, the ad distorts reality in a number of ways

The health care law is too vital to be cast aside. With our thousands of member activists, we will work to preserve and expand its reach. As a matter of justice, we want even more people covered.

If Timothy Dolan is to be believed, he's ready to sacrifice the poor -- many of whom are elderly, juvenile, disabled and infirm -- in Christ's name, for the greater good of wining the war against contraception.

Editor's note: Every week, HuffPost Religion shines a spotlight on religious people doing good work in their communities. If you would like to recomme...

The Catholic Worker promoted social activism amongst Catholics through an action-oriented spirituality rooted in an ethic of poverty and the individual practice of the works of mercy.

As a Protestant, I refuse to throw self-righteous stones against Catholics. It is not only in politics that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. No church is immune. No person is.