Pope Francis has done away with the honorific title “monsignor” for all but a few priests, with a change specifying that only diocesan priests who are “chaplains of the Holy Father” can use the title, and then only after they turn 65, while bishops, vicars and archbishops can still be called “monsignor” and Holy See officials will have the title if their office warrants it.
Todd Baugh, 72, a Montana judge who drew widespread condemnation for saying that a 14-year-old rape victim appeared “older than her chronological age,” announced that he plans to retire at the end of this year.President Barack Obama has invited lawmakers and intelligence officials to the White House for talks starting today to discuss National Security Agency programs before Obama unveils what changes he’s prepared to make to the programs.
Jeff Stockwell, a delivery driver for the Kansas City Star, went to the rescue of Tony Soetaert, 77, the former mayor of Shawnee, Kan., on one of the coldest mornings in decades after he heard Soetaert’s cries for help and found that the ex-mayor had fallen while taking out the trash and couldn’t get up.
Pornkamol Mongkolsermsak, 48, a Bangkok woman found inside a suitcase while authorities were inspecting a Honda at the U.S.-Mexico border, was charged with re-entry after deportation.
Carolyn Case, 66, who is accused of tying up her 3-year-old granddaughter for hours at a time, pleaded guilty in Kentucky to a reduced charge and must testify against the girl’s mother and stepfather in their trials on related charges.
Joel Cleve Miller, 42, a former Marine from Southern California, was released from prison after an appellate court overturned his conviction for possessing a chrome-plated AK-47 that may have belonged to a member of Saddam Hussein’s royal guard.
Andrew Scott Boguslawski, 43, who was stopped for speeding in Ohio, was charged with illegally making or possessing an explosive device after nearly 50 bombs and four guns were found in his vehicle.
Beatrice Ask, the Swedish justice minister, is facing ridicule after posting on her Facebook page a spoof article from the Daily Currant that falsely claimed several deaths linked to Colorado marijuana use, to which she added comments about her zero-tolerance drug stance.
Front Section, Pages 1 on 01/08/2014