Arizona

Fans honor football player killed in Afghanistan

A steady stream of mourners arrived Saturday outside Arizona Cardinals headquarters, leaving Army mementos and football memorabilia to honor Pat Tillman, 27, the first professional football player in more than three decades to die in combat.

Tillman, who gave up a career in the NFL to join the elite Army Rangers, died Thursday when his patrol was ambushed near the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Friday, the Cardinals set up a table in front of their headquarters with Tillman’s jersey in a glass frame. In front was a poster showing Tillman in uniform on bended knee on the sidelines.

The tribute grew through the night and Saturday.

An old, flat-brimmed Ranger hat was placed alongside a copy of “The Ranger Creed.” At the bottom of the document, someone had written, “Ranger Tillman, see you in heaven.”

Boston

Kerry takes communion day after Vatican comments

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry received communion from a Catholic priest Saturday, one day after a top Vatican cardinal said politicians who support abortion rights should be denied the Eucharist.

Kerry took communion during the 6 p.m. Mass at Boston’s Paulist Center, where campaign spokesman David Wade said the candidate regularly worshipped.

“We’re following the directive of our archdiocese,” said Father Joe Ciccone, who gave Kerry the Eucharist. “They have said we should give him communion.”

The congregation includes gay couples, whose adopted children are baptized there, unlike in some other Boston parishes. In November, its leaders refused to read aloud during Mass from a letter opposing gay marriage, as requested by the Massachusetts bishops.

Ohio

Priest charged in nun’s death always suspect, police say

A Roman Catholic priest charged in the 1980 strangling and stabbing of a nun whose body was found in a hospital chapel had always been a suspect in the killing.

Toledo Police never could gather enough evidence, though, until they reopened the case about five months ago. Friday, police arrested the Rev. Gerald Robinson, who performed the 71-year-old nun’s funeral.

Police Chief Mike Navarre would only say that “new technology” led them back to Robinson, 66, who was charged with murder. Navarre would not talk about evidence or a motive.

Pahl was strangled and stabbed about 30 times on April 5, 1980.