White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart says President Clinton is deeply troubled by death sentences given to three Baha'i men in Iran. "In all three cases, it is clear that the individuals were arrested, charged and sentenced to death solely because of their religious beliefs," Lockhart said. "Executing people for the practice of their religious faith is contrary to the most fundamental human rights principles."

Rebels in eastern Congo refused to let Roman Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko return to his parish, saying he is a collaborator with the country's president. "He is not persona non grata. But he is not welcome in Bukavu until tensions there calm," says a rebel spokesman.

As noted in an earlier ChristianityToday.com Weblog, Father Mario Orantes was arrested in 1998 but released. As Guatemala's new president fulfills his campaign promise to solve the murder of Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi, there have been several new arrests, including three officers from elite military units.

Pope John Paul II wants more modern role models elevated to the level of veneration, beatification or sainthood. Keep your eye out for future saints Katharine Drexel (second American-born saint) Pierre Toussaint (first black U.S.-born saint), and Mother Mary Lange (first black woman American saint). The Washington Post article has a sidebar on current black saints in the Catholic church.

The Simpsons' character's wife died in Sunday night's episode, and the Christianity Today columnist (who also seems to be involved with every ...