The James Logan Courier

By Alfredo Corchado
The Dallas Morning News (MCT)

CHUCANDIRO, Michoacan — This jolly 240-pound man isn't dressed in red, and he doesn't rely on reindeer to pull a sled. Instead, he drives a pickup and packs a .38 pistol as he delivers toys. And though he looks like a cowboy, he's a man of the cloth.

Meet Alfredo Gallegos Lara, the parish priest of tiny Chucandiro, in the central state of Michoacan, 200 miles west of Mexico City. Dubbed "Padre Pistolas" (Father Guns), the towering, singing priest will deliver toys to the neediest children this holiday season and bring smiles in a region torn apart by heavy migration to the U.S. and a violent turf war between drug traffickers.

By Robert Berger
Bethlehem, VOANews

Hundreds of Palestinian boy and girl scouts marched through Manger Square in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. They passed the Church of the Nativity, where tradition says Jesus Christ was born. Security was tight -- paramilitary policemen armed with assault rifles stood guard on rooftops and on the cobblestone streets below.

Bethlehem was decked out for the holiday. All the trees were lit up with red, white and yellow lights, and stars and bells illuminated the buildings. Ironically, money for the decorations came from the ruling Islamic militant group Hamas.

By Paula Wolfson
Washington,VOANews

The president rose early for a Christmas ritual - a series of calls to members of the armed services. He spoke with ten servicemen and women in all, including two from each branch of the military. Most are deployed in either Afghanistan or Iraq.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino quotes the president as saying he wanted to let them how much he appreciates their service, and how proud he is of each of them.