NATION/WORLD

A Latin America expert for Catholic Relief Services, the head of the bishops' migration committee and the president of a Catholic college in Michigan were among those urging the government toward humanitarian responses to a surge of children and families crossing the U.S. border from Central America.

Pope Francis telephoned Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, both of whom he "considers to be men of peace and who want peace," urging all sides to end hostilities. The pope told the leaders that the conflict was creating "numerous victims and was giving way to a state of serious humanitarian emergency."

For the past decade, Fr. Craig Collison has been the play-by-play announcer for the Xs, whose home ballpark is Lewis and Clark Stadium in Sioux City. He commits to the home games of the Explorers for the season, with a particular caveat.

Doctors who practice in Canada and refuse to prescribe birth control pills have become the focus of a debate over physicians' rights to freedom of conscience and religion when practicing medicine.

An 84-year-old Sister of St. Francis of Sylvania specializes in creating murals with religious and spiritual themes. She has been crafting murals for 38 years, and despite never soliciting her work, has completed nearly 100 murals.

A papal astronomer won recognition for his ability to communicate accurately and clearly the discoveries of planetary science to the general public.

Petitions and letters to members of Congress and the Obama administration are among the measures being pursued by advocates urging humane treatment of the Central American children who are trying to migrate to the United States.

The situation in hospitals in the Gaza Strip is dire, and Palestinians are saying that medical supplies will soon run out, said a cardiologist who serves with the Near East Council of Churches in Gaza. By July 14, more than 170 people — about half civilians — had been killed in Gaza, and hundreds more were injured.

Spend some time in Indianapolis Community Court, talk with Judge David Certo and the stories start to flow about the steadfast hope and remarkable sense of human dignity that guide this court. It's a court that believes in helping people strive for a better life, has a strong influence of Catholic faith — including the leadership of former seminarian — and the compassion of numerous food pantry volunteers.

The Supreme Court's ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby was barely out of the clerk's box June 30 before pundits, partisans and parties to related lawsuits were staking out claims about what the decision means.