Pope makes a big gesture to China

Pope makes a big gesture to China

HAEMI, South Korea

Pope Francis made his strongest gesture yet to reach out to China on Sunday, saying he wants to improve relations and insisting that the Catholic Church isn’t coming in as a “conqueror” but is rather a partner in dialogue.

Francis outlined his priorities for the Catholic Church in Asia during a meeting of about 80 of the region’s bishops, urging them to engage with people of different cultures empathetically.

“In this spirit of openness to others, I earnestly hope that those countries of your continent with whom the Holy See does not yet enjoy a full relationship may not hesitate to further a dialogue for the benefit of all,” he said.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope’s remarks were “obviously a sign of good will for dialogue” with China as well as the other countries in Asia with which the Vatican doesn’t have diplomatic relations: North Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Bhutan and Brunei.

Perry defends veto that led to indictment

WASHINGTON

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Sunday defended the veto that led a grand jury to indict him on two felony counts of abuse of power, noting that even some Democrats have questioned the move by prosecutors.

“I stood up for the rule of law in the state of Texas, and if I had to do it again, I would make exactly the same decision,” Perry, a potential candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, said.

Already the longest-serving governor in state history, Perry has made it clear that he plans to complete his third and final term in January as planned. In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” the governor noted that David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, had called the indictment “sketchy” while Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz had questioned the move.

A Travis County grand jury Friday indicted Perry for carrying out a threat to veto state funds to the local district attorney, an elected Democrat, unless she resigned after her arrest and conviction for drunken driving. That 2013 veto prompted a criminal investigation.

Analysis: Disabilities in children increase

CHICAGO

Disabilities among U.S. children have increased slightly, with a bigger rise in mental and developmental problems in those from wealthier families, a 10-year analysis found.

Disadvantaged kids still bear a disproportionate burden.

The increases may partly reflect more awareness and recognition that conditions, including autism, require a specific diagnosis to receive special services, researchers say.

Meantime, physical disabilities declined, as other studies have suggested.

The study is the first to look broadly at the 10-year trend, but the results echo previous studies showing increases in autism, attention problems and other developmental or mental disabilities.

Shooting injures 6 at Utah nightclub

SALT LAKE CITY

Police are looking for a gunman who opened fire at a crowded nightclub in downtown Salt Lake City, shooting six people.

Hundreds of people fled the Inferno Cantina Night Club after shots rang out about 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Some of the injuries are serious, but none appears to be life-threatening, Salt Lake City police Lt. Craig Gleason said Sunday.

The gunman fled with at least one other person in a stolen black Cadillac CTS that the Utah Highway Patrol found early Sunday about 5 miles away. The suspects remained at large Sunday.

Associated Press