Pope tells Vatican office to uphold truth, justice, charity

January 30, 2026

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV told the Vatican’s doctrine office on Thursday to uphold truth, justice and charity when deciding clergy sex abuse cases, confirming a calibrated approach to dealing with a scandal that has tarnished the Catholic Church’s credibility worldwide. History’s first American pope dedicated only a small part of his speech to abuse in an address to members of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that polices Catholic doctrine but also processes abuse cases worldwide. What Leo didn’t say was almost more significant than what he ...

Despite the history, US church protests remain rare

January 30, 2026

American religious history is rife with protest movements and civil disobedience. Yet it is rare for political protests to happen inside a house of worship. That is part of what makes the new case against anti-ICE protesters in St. Paul, Minnesota, unusual. The group interrupted a service ...

Stage, screen star Fiennes makes Paris Opera debut

January 30, 2026

PARIS — Ralph Fiennes ‘ vision of “Eugene Onegin” was cinematic. A three-time Academy Award nominee and a Tony Award winner, Fiennes made his opera directing debut Monday at the Paris Opera’s ornate Palais Garnier. Using bright lighting near the proscenium as other characters ...

At the movies — Jan. 30-Feb. 1

January 30, 2026

PITT THEATRE Iron Lung (R) Friday-Sunday — 7:30 p.m. Mercy (PG-13) Friday-Sunday — 7:30 p.m. AMC ALTOONA 12 Movies begin 25-30 minutes after showtimes Paris Hilton Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir Live Q&A with Paris Hilton (PG-13) Friday — 8 p.m. (BIGD) Mercy ...

Making tracks

January 29, 2026

An ice fisherman walks to join a friend on the lake at Canoe Creek State Park on Wednesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Cleanup prep

January 28, 2026

One of many “no parking” signs warns drivers of Wednesday’s cleanup of 11th Avenue in Altoona on Tuesday morning. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski