WASHINGTON (AP) — A political tip sheet for the rest of us outside the Washington Beltway, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012: DAY’S DEVELOPMENTS: — GOP RACE. Caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota. Front-runner Mitt Romney hoped to stretch a two-state winning streak to four. But an electorate in both states now more conservative than when he won them in 2008 could prove troublesome for a candidate whose allegiance to conservative principles has been questioned. Rivals Rick Santorum and Ron Paul were trying... Read more

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s conservative ruling party is gambling that this country known for machismo is ready for a female president and have chosen a devout Roman Catholic and popular former congresswoman who says she sympathizes with the causes of the poor. Josefina Vazquez Mota, a 51-year-old economist, became the first female presidential candidate from any of Mexico’s major parties late Sunday when she convincingly won the National Action Party’s primary. Her victory marks a milestone for women in... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — People are paying their respects to the former spiritual leader of Philadelphia’s 1.5 million Roman Catholics. The first of two public viewings began Monday evening for the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. The former archbishop of Philadelphia died last week at the age of 88. Another viewing is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, with a funeral Mass to follow. Bevilacqua led the archdiocese for more than... Read more

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the return of a 16th Century Baroque painting depicting Christ carrying the cross to the heirs of a Jewish man who died shortly before the German occupation of France in World War II. U.S. Judge Robert Hinkle filed the order Monday to return the work — “Christ Carrying the Cross Dragged by a Rogue” — to the descendants of Federico Gentili di Giuseppe. U.S. authorities seized the Italian painting last November... Read more

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Sensing a possible threat, Mitt Romney criticized Rick Santorum’s time in the Senate as “not effective” because of his past support for spending on pork-barrel projects as he worked to fend off an unexpected challenge in the next states to vote. Santorum countered that Romney, the front-runner in the GOP presidential race, “should not be our nominee” because he was “dead wrong on the most important issue of the day” when, as governor, he signed... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The judge overseeing a child sex-abuse case involving three Roman Catholic priests in Philadelphia will allow prosecutors to reference at trial previous molestation claims against other clergy. Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina ruled Monday that the abuse allegations are relevant to the upcoming trial of Monsignor William Lynn. Lynn is a high-ranking church official charged with shuffling predator priests to unwitting parishes. Prosecutors want to show a pattern of behavior in how Lynn handled the careers... Read more

ROME (AP) — A top American cardinal on Monday defended Pope Benedict’s handling of sexual abuse cases by clergy, saying he should be praised not criticized, as advocates for abuse victims demanded that the Vatican release its secret files on pedophile priests. Cardinal William Levada told a Vatican-backed symposium on safeguarding children that Benedict had been “instrumental” in implementing standards to crack down on pedophile clergy as well as supportive of U.S. bishops’ efforts to fight the abuse. Before becoming... Read more

ROME (AP) — The U.S. cardinal who leads the Vatican office overseeing cases of sexual abuse by clergy says Pope Benedict XVI should be thanked, not attacked, for his handling of the problem. Cardinal William Levada vigorously defended Benedict in a speech to a Vatican-backed symposium in Rome aimed at showing church leaders how to help sex abuse victims and protect children. Before becoming pontiff, Benedict held Levada’s job, and the cardinal thanked him for supporting binding rules so U.S.... Read more

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — The fiery Northern Ireland Protestant leader the Rev. Ian Paisley has been taken to a hospital, his wife said Monday. The Press Association news agency said Eileen Paisley confirmed that her 85-year-old husband had been taken to the Ulster Hospital near Belfast. Ulster Television reported that he was being treated in the intensive care unit, but it was not immediately certain what he was being treated for. Paisley, a minister in the Free Presbyterian denomination... Read more

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has named a new bishop for the Salina, Kansas, diocese. The Vatican said Monday that the pontiff selected Monsignor Edward John Weisenburger for the post. the 51-year-old Weisenburger has been serving as vicar general and rector of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in the Oklahoma City diocese. A native of Illinois, Weisenburger was ordained in 1987. He has studied theology in Belgium and canon, or church, law at St. Paul University in... Read more