In brief: GOP will have fewer debates for 2016 candidates

Coronado, Calif. – Trying to lessen the chances that a divisive primary damages its 2016 presidential nominee, the Republican National Committee announced Friday that it would hold a limited series of debates during the primary season.

Nine debates have been approved between August of this year and March 1, 2016, with the first taking place in Ohio, the party announced at its winter meeting in Coronado. The California debate will be in September at the Ronald Reagan Library.

“By constructing and instituting a sound debate process, it will allow candidates to bring their ideas and visions to Americans in a timely and efficient way,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said.

Any candidate or media host who participates in a debate not sanctioned by the RNC would be forbidden from taking part in any sanctioned debates.

Since the party’s last presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, lost two years ago, party leaders have argued that he was badly damaged during the nearly two dozen debates during the primary – some of which featured a host of challengers ganging up on the front-runner.

Archdiocese seeks protection in face of clergy abuse lawsuits

St. Paul, Minn. – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, saying it’s the best way for the church to get as many resources as possible to victims of clergy sexual abuse while continuing its daily ministry.

“We’re doing the right thing,” the Rev. Charles Lachowitzer, a top church official, told the Associated Press in an interview in advance of Friday’s filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. “This decision reflects the end of a process of putting victims first.”

The archdiocese is the 12th U.S. diocese to seek bankruptcy protection in the face of sex abuse claims. Church leaders have said for months that bankruptcy was an option, as the archdiocese faces numerous lawsuits by victims of clergy sex abuse. The lawsuits will be put on hold while the bankruptcy case is pending.