WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In a politically charged election year, Catholic parishes aren't immune to the animus in the air. But it's important to remind people in Catholic communities of their faith, the shared belief in a loving Christ, and that is more important than any political party they may belong to, said church workers sharing best practices for building bridges in faith communities.

BONN, Germany (CNS) -- German bishops urged patience toward their efforts to deal with the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church in Germany. The German Catholic news agency KNA reported the bishops, meeting in Wurzburg, said the plans that resulted from the latest investigations needed time. Their appeal came 10 years since the first revelations of the abuse emerged.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (CNS) -- A lawsuit to force the University of Notre Dame to provide free contraceptives and abortifacient drugs in its health plans will proceed after receiving a green light from a federal district court in South Bend.