(RNS) Franciscan friars are throwing their support behind a group of American nuns, saying Vatican criticism of the women was "excessive" and is "polarizing" the Catholic Church. By Daniel Burke.

(RNS) Leaders representing most of the nation‚'s 57,000 Catholic nuns on Friday (June 1) said a Vatican crackdown on their group was based on "unsubstantiated" allegations, and caused "scandal and pain'' in the church. By David Gibson.

CLEVELAND (RNS) Catholics are coming together around the country for prayer vigils as a show of support for America's nuns, whom the Vatican accuses of having "serious doctrinal problems." By Michael O'Malley.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI has wrapped up his regular meetings with small groups of U.S. bishops, touching all the hot-button issues of the presidential campaign, from same-sex marriage to religious freedom, and many more. Here's a recap of what he said. By Alessandro Speciale.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI thanked American nuns for their “fidelity and self-sacrifice” in a speech to U.S. bishops in Rome. He also praised the American church’s efforts in favor of immigration reform. By Alessandro Speciale.

(RNS) Now it turns out that conservative U.S. churchmen living in Rome, including disgraced former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law, were key players in pushing the Vatican crackdown on U.S. nuns. By David Gibson.

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Vatican on Wednesday announced a crackdown on the organization representing most nuns and sisters in the U.S. following an investigation that said religious sisters weren't toeing the line on women's ordination, same-sex marriage and other issues. By David Gibson.

No joke, he was asked to leave. And he was sober. But a nun is going to the Oscars. Jesuits want bishops to tone down the "war on religion" chatter. China may invite religious freedom envoy. And Richard Dawkins needs to Google Darwin.