DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate John Kerry received communion from a priest on Saturday, one day after a senior cardinal said politicians who support abortion rights should be denied the Eucharist.

A MULTI-MILLION dollar settlement between more than 500 alleged victims of clergy sex abuse and the Boston archdiocese appeared to be nearly completed following two days of secret negotiations.

The Boston Archdiocese has offered $55m (€48.5m) to settle more than 500 clergy sex abuse lawsuits, according to documents and sources familiar with the talks.