Pope Benedict

For only the 2nd time EVER-the Pope hangs up his hat!

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict surprised the world on Monday by saying he no longer had the mental and physical strength to cope with the demands of his ministry, becoming the first pontiff to step down since the Middle Ages and leaving his aides "incredulous".

The 85-year-old German-born Pope, hailed as a hero by conservative Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, said he had noticed that his strength had deteriorated over recent months.

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News in a Nutshell

Headlines that caught my eye
June 11, 2011

• Disney-owned channels to restrict junk food ads 
• North Korea issues unusually specific threat
• Mass. town weighs $20 fines for swearing in public 
• Apple’s WWDC 2012 keynote reveals iOS 6, all-new MacBook, and Siri for iPad
• Sheriff: Man threatened to blow up DSS office
• Faber: '100% Chance' of Global Recession
• Sex-abuse claim seeks decades of records from Albany diocese 
• Cops: Woman kicks way into home of Union College president

Is Nothing Sacred?

The proposed demolition of historic St. Patrick’s Church in Watervliet raises quality of life issues for its neighboring community—and for the region

by Ann Morrow on April 26, 2012 · 

St. Patrick's Church, photo by Julia Zave

It was picture perfect: A young family enjoying the balmy spring weather with an evening stroll. Heading down the sidewalk of 19th Street in Watervliet, Eric Fagan, Jill Fagan, and their daughter Amber walked toward the tree-lined front lawn of St. Patrick’s, turning to look at the stately, soaring church. When asked if they knew about the vacated church’s possible fate, Jill answers firmly, “We don’t want it torn down. No one does.”