Misunderstanding the generous service and obedience of women religious leads to their being exploited and underappreciated, according to an investigative report in a Vatican magazine. "Sisters are seen as volunteers that one can have available as one wishes, which gives rise to genuine abuses of power," said a nun identified only as Sister Cecile.

Complex social problems plague the sunny streets of Sacramento. Amid the mess of systemic injustices is Waking the Village, a nonprofit that supports young adults and their children who are transitioning out of homelessness, with three housing programs, a child care center and two arts programs.

Mercy Investment Services says it met with Dick's Sporting Goods senior management in January to discuss the retailer's policies and responsibilities as a corporate citizen. On Feb. 28, Dick's announced it would stop selling assault rifles and raise the minimum purchase age for firearms to 21.

Sr. Xiomara Méndez-Hernández's journey to becoming an Adrian Dominican began in the fashion world, continued as an associate, and was made official when she professed her final vows Dec. 18 in Santo Domingo, capital of her home country, the Dominican Republic. Today, she's a hospital chaplain for Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.

by Lilian Muendo

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Despite sisters' efforts, social acceptance of sex tourism on Kenya's coast means victims are unlikely to seek help. Sex work, including for children, is seen as an acceptable means of earning a living in coastal Kenya. What is seen as a quick way out of poverty makes it hard for women and men religious to rescue young girls from sexual exploitation.