(RNS) — Like many Catholics, Aleeya Francis is excited about Pope Francis' U.S. visit. But she's different from most: The African-American woman will get to meet him, along with six children from the New York Catholic school where she leads a student body that is 91 percent black and 27 percent Catholic.
"To have the opportunity to meet with the pope," the cradle Catholic said, "and to show him that black Catholics, we're a very vibrant, active part of the church, we carry out the same mission that he has in store, to serve — it means a lot to me."
Out of all the presidential hopefuls showcased at last week's Republican debate, former Hewlett-Packard leader Carly Fiorina delivered the most visceral takedown of Planned Parenthood and its fetal organ-harvesting practices, as depicted in a hidden-camera video.
"Anyone who has watched this videotape, I dare Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama to watch these tapes," Fiorina said. "Watch a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain."
