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June 2017

June 25

This Canadian pro-life activist's talk at Google headquarters was a hit

June 25, 2017

MOUNTAIN VIEW – A pro-life activist walks into Google’s headquarters and delivers a speech so compelling that within 24 hours, the online video of it surpassed a similar speech given by the head of Planned Parenthood.

Nice guy or tough guy? The two faces of Pope Francis

June 25, 2017

VATICAN CITY – To the vast majority, Pope Francis is the compassionate face of Catholicism today.

June 26

Judge blocks deportation of Chaldeans and other Iraqis

June 26, 2017

DETROIT – A federal judge has ruled that 114 Iraqi immigrants facing deportation can stay in the U.S. for at least two more weeks as he sorts out whether the court has jurisdiction. Supporters say the immigrants would face persecution in Iraq since many of them are Christians.

Venezuela risks becoming Caribbean 'North Korea,' former leaders say

June 26, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Two former Latin American presidents said the world is running out of time to find a solution to the crisis in Venezuela as President Nicolas Maduro aims to consolidate power over the country.

Islamic State followers said to desecrate Catholic chapel in Mindanao

June 26, 2017

COTABATO, Philippines – Cardinal Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato has condemned "in the strongest terms possible" the reported desecration of a Catholic chapel by terrorist gunmen in the southern Philippines.

California court drops 14 charges against Planned Parenthood investigator

June 26, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – A California court on Wednesday (June 21) dismissed 14 of 15 criminal charges against an undercover activists behind the video exposé of Planned Parenthood’s role in the fetal tissue trade.

Bishop: 'Fundamental defects' persist in Senate's version of health bill

June 26, 2017

WASHINGTON – The Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act contains "many of the fundamental defects" that appeared in the House-passed American Health Care Act "and even further compounds them," said the bishop who heads the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

Vatican announces Pope will attend reconciliation events in Colombia

June 26, 2017

WASHINGTON – Days after rebels in Colombia announced turning in the last of their cache of weapons over to international observers, the Vatican announced June 23 details of Pope Francis' September trip to the war-torn South American country.

Stop sharing fake news, Filipino bishops implore

June 26, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – Fake news is a problem everywhere, including in the island nation of the Philippines.

U.K. pharmacy regulator abandons proposal to strip conscience protections

June 26, 2017

MANCHESTER, England – In a U-turn of proposed policy, Britain's pharmacy regulator has declared that Catholic pharmacists should not be forced to dispense lethal drugs against their consciences.

Pope's homily: Become small to hear the voice of the Lord

June 26, 2017

hat was the message of Pope Francis in his homily at the daily Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Friday morning, as the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

South Sudan churches decry warring factions for ignoring people's needs

June 26, 2017

JUBA, South Sudan – The heads of the member churches of the South Sudan Council of Churches criticized the country's political leaders "on all sides" for placing political and personal interests above the needs or ordinary people, which they said has led to economic decline, famine and ongoing violence.

Impact of legalized marijuana needs greater study, Vatican official says

June 26, 2017

VATICAN CITY – While some countries continue to debate the legalization of marijuana, its effects and impact on possible dependency need to be further understood, said the head of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

To ease tensions, Indonesian Catholics help Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr

June 26, 2017

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian Catholics have made a greater-than-usual effort to help Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr this year amid heightened religious tensions in the country, reported ucanews.com.

Vatican calls on China to release bishop form custody and assume ministry

June 26, 2017

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican expressed "grave concern" over the situation of a bishop in mainland China who has been in government custody for almost 10 months and moved repeatedly in an apparent attempt to prevent him from assuming leadership of his diocese.

Bishops, Catholic groups worry about consequences of partial travel ban

June 26, 2017

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration said the country's Catholic bishops are "deeply concerned" about the consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow a partial ban on foreign nationals as it reviews the constitutionality of a wider ban.

At Fatima, cardinal consecrates Lebanon, Middle East to Mary

June 26, 2017

FATIMA, Portugal – Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai consecrated Lebanon and all the Middle East to Mary in Fatima, praying for peace and stability.

Lithuanian archbishop, murdered by Soviet police, beatified in Vilnius

June 26, 2017

VILNIUS, Lithuania – A Catholic archbishop who was murdered by Soviet police to prevent him attending the Second Vatican Council became the first communist-era martyr beatified in Lithuania.

U.S. Supreme Court: Church school can't be barred from state funds for playground

June 26, 2017

WASHINGTON – In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court June 26 said a Lutheran preschool should not be excluded from a state grant program to refurbish its playground surface just because it is a religious entity.

June 27

Catholic Register honoured with 31 awards

June 27, 2017

The reporting and photography of veteran journalist Michael Swan was honoured 16 times as Catholic Register staff received a stunning 31 awards at a pair of gala celebrations held at Laval University.