ACCRA, Ghana - As the Year of Mercy neared, the bishops of Africa and Madagascar held up the work of families and local faith communities in caring for people with AIDS as a strong example of unconditional love.

TORONTO - Months of closed-door conversations, community consultations and a lack of follow-up communication leaves Faye Arellano skeptical about the federal governmentöÏÓãÊÓƵapp intentions to clear up the Live-in Caregivers ProgramöÏÓãÊÓƵapp backlog.

VATICAN CITY - The sick, their caregivers and any Catholic who prays for or lovingly assists someone who is ill can gain an indulgence with prayers and service on or around the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which the Catholic Church marks as World Day of the Sick.