WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph F. Martino, 63, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., for health reasons. He has appointed Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia to be apostolic administrator for the diocese. The pope also has accepted the resignation of Scranton Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty, who is 77. Canon law requires that all bishops submit their resignation to the pope when they turn 75. Cardinal Rigali named Msgr. Joseph C. Bambera, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Archbald and St.

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and theLatin American bishops' council have completed another step in aproject to develop a universal Spanish-language Bible translationdesigned to reach Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Americas.Father Sidney Fones, assistant secretary-general of thecouncil, known as CELAM, and Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary ofthe USCCB, signed a publications agreement Aug.

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who died late Aug. 25 atthe age of 77, stood firmly on the side of the Catholic Church on awide range of issues from immigration reform to the minimum wage duringhis 47 years as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts. But the youngest son of one of the nation's most famous Catholicfamilies ran into criticism from leaders of the U.S. Catholic Churchfor his stand on abortion. He opposed the Partial-Birth Abortion BanAct, supported Roe v.

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged world leaders to address global environmental issues "with generous courage" and reminded them that the world's resources are to be shared by all, including poorer countries. The pope, speaking Aug. 26 at the summer papal residence outside Rome, addressed his remarks to representatives of governments and international agencies who will attend a high-level United Nations summit on climate change in September.