(RNS) A new Catholic translation of the Bible tweaks an Old Testament text -- Isaiah 7:14 -- that many Christians consider a prophecy about Jesus’ birth. So, why did they alter a 2,745-year-old prophecy, and does it change what the church teaches about Jesus’ virgin birth? By Daniel Burke.

The U.S. Catholic bishops are showing strong approval ratings, so they can take that as consolation after their Election Day setbacks. Then again, the nuns are still way more popular. So it goes.

(RNS) As Congress embarks on high-stakes budget negotiations to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are urging elected officials not to target programs for the poor and instead raise taxes and reduce defense spending. By David Gibson

BALTIMORE (RNS) The Catholic bishops gathered at their annual meeting couldn’t agree on a statement on the economy, but with a unanimous voice vote on Tuesday they easily backed a measure to push sainthood for Dorothy Day, whose life and work were dedicated to championing the poor. By David Gibson

BALTIMORE (RNS) A divided Catholic hierarchy on Tuesday (Nov. 13) failed to agree on a statement about the economy after a debate that revealed sharp differences over the kind of social justice issues that were once a hallmark of the bishops’ public profile. By David Gibson.

BALTIMORE (RNS) In the wake of sweeping setbacks to the hierarchy’s agenda on Election Day, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Monday (Nov. 12) told his fellow bishops that they must now look at their own failings, confess their sins and reform themselves if they hope to affect the wider culture. By David Gibson.

(RNS) A public watchdog group is charging the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops with openly politicking on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and wants the Internal Revenue Service to explore revoking the hierarchy’s tax-exempt status. By David Gibson.

(RNS) A number of Roman Catholic bishops are making forceful appeals to their flock to vote next Tuesday, and their exhortations are increasingly sounding like clear calls to support Republican challenger Mitt Romney. By David Gibson.

(RNS) President Obama’s support among Catholic voters has surged since June, according to a new poll, despite the Catholic bishops’ religious freedom campaign and the naming of Paul Ryan, a Catholic, as the GOP's vice-presidential nominee. By Daniel Burke. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (RNS) Bishop Robert Finn, a St. Louis native who was ordained in the St. Louis Archdiocese, is the first U.S. bishop convicted of failing to report criminal sexual activity by a priest. Local Catholics were polite but not subtle about the court ruling. By Jesse Bogan and Tim Towsend.

(RNS) Paul Ryan has been taking a lot of heat over the factual accuracy of claims he made in his prime time address at the Republican convention last week, but Wednesday night at the Democratic confab the GOP vice-presidential candidate – and practicing Catholic – was schooled by a popular nun on the moral shortcomings of his budget proposals.