Browse › 2019 › July

July 2019

July 18

Syriac Christians living near border fear Turkey military incursion

July 18, 2019

AMMAN, Jordan -- Syriac Christians in northeastern Syria are calling on the United States to help defend them against a buildup of Turkish troops along the border, fearing they will be overrun and suffer the same fate as Afrin, where jihadist forces pushed out inhabitants last year.

Britain votes to legalize abortion, same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland

July 18, 2019

MANCHESTER, England -- Abortion and same-sex marriage will be made legal in Northern Ireland unless self-government in the province is restored within three months.

July 19

Chaldeans in northern Iraq face uncertainty in return to homes

July 19, 2019

WASHINGTON -- Chaldean Christians in northern Iraq are determined to continue their 2,000-year-long mission despite the near-deadly blow inflicted by Islamic State forces and new challenges from nongovernment militias, said a priest ministering in the region.

Moon landing inspired a country and a career in aerospace engineering

July 19, 2019

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Retired Maj. Gen. Mike Wiedemer was an aerospace engineering and ROTC student at the University of Notre Dame in July 1969 when Apollo 11 launched and Neil Armstrong took a "giant leap for mankind" by becoming the first man to walk on the moon.

July 20

Astronauts found God in space

July 20, 2019

I didn't realize there was a moon-landing Bible verse until my pastor mentioned it a few weeks ago.

'We need a habitat on the moon,' says former NASA flight director

July 20, 2019

HOUSTON -- Upcoming space travel plans need to include living on the moon, similar to scientific habitats in the Arctic and Antarctica, said Gene Kranz, NASA's former flight director.

July 21

God's Word on Sunday: Prayer our most powerful spiritual tool

July 21, 2019

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 28 (Year C) Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13 Does leading an upright and prayerful life make any difference in the world? Can we influence the world around us by our lives?

July 22

Catholics focus on migrant children with rally, civil disobedience

July 22, 2019

WASHINGTON -- A few hundred Catholic activists, including dozens of women religious, gathered outside at the foot of the U.S. Capitol July 18 urging politicians to stop its "inhumane treatment" of immigrant children at the border and reminding people of faith to take a stronger stand against current U.S. border policies.

Bishop: Italian doctors should get chance to help 5-year-old London girl

July 22, 2019

MANCHESTER, England -- Italian medics should be given a chance to help a London girl who British doctors believe should die, a bishop said.

Pope Francis issues sanctions against former West Virginia bishop

July 22, 2019

WASHINGTON -- The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston announced July 19 sanctions from the Vatican -- including taking away the faculties of celebrating Mass -- against a former West Virginia bishop who stepped down last year under a cloud of allegations of sexual and financial misconduct.

Pope Francis writes Assad: urges him to protect civilians, seek peace

July 22, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to put an end to his country's eight-year-long conflict and seek reconciliation for the good of the nation and its vulnerable people.

Forensic experts to study 'thousands of bones' found in Vatican ossuaries

July 22, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- During a search for the remains of a young Italian woman missing for more than 30 years, workers discovered an enormous number of bones inside two ossuaries in a building next to a Vatican cemetery.

Pakistani Christian looks to Canada for help after death threats

July 22, 2019

BANGKOK, THAILAND -- A plea has been issued for Canada to rescue a Pakistani Christian refugee who is in hiding after a viral video calling on jihadi fighters to kill him swept through Bangkok's refugee community.

Mobs have killed 70 accused of blasphemy in Pakistan

July 22, 2019

WASHINGTON -- Despite the blasphemy law that has roiled Christians in Pakistan, the government has not executed anyone found guilty at trial.

July 23

Wen's firing said to show abortion is Planned Parenthood priority

July 23, 2019

WASHINGTON -- Following the news Dr. Leana Wen was fired by Planned Parenthood as its president, several pro-life leaders remarked that the organization was upset the physician had emphasized the need to expand Planned Parenthood services beyond abortion.

Rosary Bowl rekindles the spirit of ’47

July 23, 2019

OTTAWA -- Seventy-two years after the 1947 Marian Congress in Ottawa, pilgrims will look to re-capture the spirit on the very same site of that historic event with the inaugural Lansdowne Rosary Bowl.

Philippine bishops charged with sedition

July 23, 2019

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine church leaders said the filing of sedition charges against four Catholic bishops, three priests, and several government critics are "beyond belief."

New Damascus archbishop eager to give hope to tired faithful

July 23, 2019

BEIRUT -- After eight years of war, the faithful in Damascus, Syria, are "so tired," said their new bishop, Syriac Catholic Archbishop John Jihad Battah. Nevertheless, he is returning to his birthplace with enthusiasm.

Pope Francis calls for 'apostolate of prevention' to protect minors

July 23, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Prevention is key in protecting minors from abuse, Pope Francis said.

Car accident uncovers priest's 'prolonged history of theft'

July 23, 2019

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Bishop Robert F. Vasa informed the Santa Rosa Diocese July 22 that a local pastor was recovering well from surgery for injuries he sustained in a car accident, but he also had to announce the incident had uncovered the priest's "prolonged history of theft."