News/International

NAIROBI, Kenya – In the midst of the rusty shanties of Nairobi’s Kibera slums, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church stands out in bright yellow.

Campaign seeks to block mosque construction near Pisa’s tower

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PISA, Italy – A campaign to block construction of a new mosque near the Leaning Tower of Pisa imperils Italy’s commitment to religious freedom, warn those who defend Muslims’ right to build it.

New Mexico's bishops reject governor's plan to reinstate death penalty

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Catholic bishops of New Mexico said they oppose Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's plan to reinstate the death penalty and called on the Legislature to reject it.

Lebanese cardinal decries terrorism at South Korea peace conference

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SEOUL, South Korea – Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, visiting the South Korean capital of Seoul, urged the international community to end the wars raging in the Middle East "fueled by foreign countries."

The ‘Olympic spirit’ thrives despite bad behaviour in Rio’s Summer Games

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And so the quadrennial international ritual known as the Summer Olympic Games is over.

Texas judge blocks Obama transgender bathroom rules

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WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Texas has sided with school districts opposing the Obama administration’s directive on transgender bathrooms, temporarily blocking the directive just before on the first day of school in Texas Monday.

End violence by building bridges, Milwaukee priest urges Massgoers

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MILWAUKEE – Violence stems from a breakdown in communication, Fr. Bob Stiefvater told more than 450 people gathered at All Saints Church in Milwaukee for a Mass of peace Aug. 18.

Filipino bishops question why drug crackdown seems to miss kingpins

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MANILA, Philippines – Catholic and Protestant bishops in the Philippines have called for a "deeper analysis" of the spate of killings in the country that have been linked to the government's anti-narcotics campaign.

West won’t recognize Christian Mideast exodus

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Middle Eastern Christians have suffered soft, state-sponsored discrimination since the Ottomans ruled and that discrimination has been reinforced over generations by poor, underfunded education systems throughout the region. More recently this evil brew has been stirred into feverish, bigoted campaigns of hate spread by Saudi-funded Wahhabi preachers.

Italian bishop likens ‘Pokemon Go’ to totalitarian Nazism

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ROME – An Italian bishop has threatened to take legal action against “Pokemon Go,” describing the game as “diabolical” and a “totalitarian system like Nazism.”

In Puerto Rico, mistrust fuels more public doubt than urgency on Zika

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SAN GERMAN, Puerto Rico – Mistrust of local government and federal agencies has caused doubt among Puerto Ricans about reports the Zika epidemic poses a grave situation to the island.