Vatican laws have changed to toughen sexual abuse punishment for perpetrators . . . Oh, and, by the way, women still are not allowed to enter the priesthood

The photo is of the Seven Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, nuns who survived 13 desert days travelling from San Diego to Tucson in a covered wagon in May of 1880. The women, hired to teach at Archbishop Jean-Baptist Salpoint's school, soon opened schools of their own, as well as St. Mary's Hospital, the first hospital in Arizona. That facility, along with others belonging to the Carondelet Sisters, was recently sold.

On June 1, 2021, the Vatican announced punishments directed at priests and clergy regarding the protection of children from sexual abuse: Pope Francis has changed the Roman Catholic Church laws to explicitly criminalise sexual abuse of children with penalties described at all levels of complicity. . It’s the biggest overhaul of the criminal code for …

Read moreVatican laws have changed to toughen sexual abuse punishment for perpetrators . . . Oh, and, by the way, women still are not allowed to enter the priesthood

Prosecuting Homeless for Sleeping Outside May Violate U.S. Constitution, Court Rules

Picture of Safe Park in Tucson

An important court decision regarding the homeless was handed down by the Ninth Circuit, in Martin v. City of Boise, when they ruled in September that if a person experiencing homelessness has no option of sleeping indoors, a city cannot cite him or her for violating an ordinance disallowing sleeping outside in a public space. …

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LA POSADA — A Contemporary Christmas Story

Posada (signifying Inn) is a Christmas tradition in much of the Latin world. Joseph and Mary search for shelter. Mary is about to give birth to Jesus. Shelter is refused several times and finally one house opens its door to the couple. In the Bi-National Migrant Posada Joseph and Mary represent migrants in search of asylum. The …

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Another Trial for Border Patrol Shooter? (Commentary)

“Kids on the fence.” That was the radio message heard at Nogales’ DeConcini port of entry that sent Border Patrol agent Lonnie Ray Swartz and several of his colleagues running west into the street along the border fence on October 10,2012. Swartz was the only agent to purposefully step up to the international barrier that …

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Re-trial Begins for Border Patrol Agent Charged in Cross-border Killing of Teen

Painting showing Jose Antonio Rodriguez on a mule and Death

October 26, 2018 Sitting in the courtroom on the afternoon of the first day of proceedings in border agent Lonnie Swartz’ second trial left the distinct impression on most in the courtroom that we had been here before. Swartz was acquitted of the most serious charge of 2nd degree murder in his first trial. This …

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