The world's 1.2 billion Catholics have a number of different visions for the future of the Church. Julie Davis, a graphic designer from Dallas and the author of the Happy Catholic blog, Brian Frawley, manager of the gift shop at Boston's Holy Cross Cathedral and Father Matthew Gamber, a priest and senior counselor at Jesuit High School in Tampa Bay, Florida, discuss their hopes for the future of the Church.

One thing we know, or can be pretty sure about, is that long after there is a new pope at the Vatican, the bickering over the next U.S. Federal Budget will continue, and in Congress there is no pope to hurry things along.

Hugh Martin served for nearly a year with the Ohio National Guard in the Iraqi town of Jalala. He is the author of a new book of poetry about his experiences called "The Stick Soldiers."

Ten years ago this month, the US invaded Iraq, launching the Iraq War. Throughout the week, we're looking at lessons from the war from scholars, soldiers, translators — and you.

Fracking has worked miracles in the west, but are we back to a form of wildcatting for oil and gas — a boom time with no rules? Richard Manning, a writer based in Montana has been reporting on the impact of accelerated efforts to bring oil and gas out from the shale rock formations in Bakken, North Dakota.

Author Taiye Selasi describes herself as an "Afropolitan," a member of a distinctly 21st century generation of African origin. The characters in her new novel, "Ghana Must Go," reflect this sentiment as well. 

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s large soda ban drew comparisons to over-bearing parenting and prohibition. It was scheduled to go into effect beginning today, but before it could, New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling struck it down yesterday afternoon.