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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — No matter what Pope Francis says, Donald Trump says he's "proud to be a Christian." Speaking today in South Carolina, Trump said it's "disgraceful" for a religious leader to "question a person's faith." He's responding to comments today from the pope, who told reporters that Trump is "not Christian" if he wants to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Francis said building walls rather than bridges "is not Christian." He said it's "not in the Gospel."
ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) — Donald Trump isn't the only Republican presidential candidate who's taking issue with Pope Francis today on the issue of a border wall between the United States and Mexico. Marco Rubio told reporters in South Carolina that Vatican City has a right to control its borders -- and so does the United States. Rubio previously favored a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally, but now says border security — including expanding the Mexican border wall — is the priority.
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — When it comes to the Zika (ZEE'-kuh) virus -- Pope Francis is willing to relax the church's opposition to artificial contraception. Flying home from Mexico, the pontiff was asked if abortion or birth control could be considered a "lesser evil" when dealing with the Zika crisis in Brazil. Some babies have been born with abnormally small heads to mothers infected with Zika. The pope responded that abortion "isn't a lesser evil, it's a crime" -- but that "avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil."
CORONA, Calif. (AP) — FBI agents are searching the Southern California townhome of the brother of one of the San Bernardino attackers. A spokeswoman will only confirm that agents have carried out a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation. Gunman Syed Farook's brother and sister-in-law live at the Corona home where agents were seen today. Farook and his wife killed 14 people in the December attack.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officials say a natural gas well blowout that drove thousands of Los Angeles families from their homes for months has been permanently sealed. The well gushed methane for 16 weeks. It's been plugged with cement, and several tests showed no more gas was leaking. The leak was first reported in October, and nearby residents complained of headaches, nausea, dizziness and nosebleeds. The utility has paid to relocate 6,400 households. With the leak capped, many of those displaced will have a week to return home.
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