Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst spent millions of dollars on renovations at his residence in Limburg, Germany. On Wednesday, the Vatican accepted his resignation.

Sonya Loya's grandmother passed along unusual traditions to her family. As an adult, Loya believed that her ancestors could have come from medieval Spain, which expelled its Sephardic Jews in the 15th century. Had her family been Jewish all along?

In what's being called an "unprecedented and scathing report," the U.N.'s Committee on the Rights of the Child says the Catholic church's hierarchy adopted policies that let tens of thousands of children be sexually molested for decades. The Vatican says it isn't responsible for abusive priests.

The "Charismatic" movement involves worshipping with exuberance, miraculous healings, prophesying and establishing a personal connection with God - and the number of converts is growing. According to a recent survey by NPR, about one-third of Latino Catholics in the U.S. identify as "Charismatic."

Francis, who has been criticized by some conservative Catholics for not speaking out forcefully against abortion, said the practice is "horrific."

From Katie Couric to the Wall Street Journal, the phenomenon of the "hipster Christian" is a hot topic. Or, whatever.

The pope removed a conservative American cardinal, who was a leading critic of abortion and gay marriage and replaced him with a more moderate voice.

The Rev. Kelvin Apurillo rode out Typhoon Haiyan on the second floor of his parish church. Two-thirds of his parishioners are now dead, missing or have left. And he's struggling to make sense of the destruction. In the majority Roman Catholic country, the church has played a key role in relief efforts.