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September 18, 2018

U.S. aid cuts to Palestinians could be disastrous, Catholic workers say

Palestinian youths run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during a Sept. 10 protest along a beach in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. budgetary cuts to humanitarian aid institutions providing assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank could lead to long-term disastrous consequences, said aid workers in the region.
JERUSALEM – The U.S. budgetary cuts to humanitarian aid institutions helping Palestinians could lead to long-term disastrous consequences, said Catholic aid workers in the region.
Published in International
August 14, 2018

Chaldean Catholic synod give alms for return of displaced Christians

Chaldean Christians in Mosul, Iraq, attend Christmas Mass at St. Paul Cathedral Dec. 24, 2017.
DAHUK, Iraq – The Chaldean Catholic Church concluded a weeklong synod in Baghdad offering thanks to God for the return of numerous displaced Christians to their hometowns in the Ninevah Plain and for pastoral achievements in their dioceses.
Published in International
August 8, 2018

Knights' donations, volunteer hours and members keep growing, CEO says

Carl Anderson, CEO of the Knights of Columbus, smiles as he addresses attendees Aug. 7 at the 136th annual Knights convention in Baltimore. Anderson spoke of the charitable works of the Knights, their ongoing pro-life commitment and pledge to support persecuted Christians in Iraq and Syria.
BALTIMORE – In an opening address Aug. 7 at the 136th annual Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention, the organizations' CEO, Carl Anderson, spoke of the charitable works of the Knights, their ongoing pro-life commitment and pledge to support persecuted Christians in Iraq and Syria.
Published in International
July 16, 2018

Carmelite nuns in Aleppo live in 'heroic situation', provincial says

A displaced Syrian family who fled violence in Aleppo stands in a field in the rural area of Manbij in 2016. Amid the destruction in war-torn Syria, a community of Discalced Carmelites in Aleppo perseveres in its mission of continuous prayer and help to families in need.
BEIRUT – Amid the destruction in war-torn Syria, a community of Discalced Carmelites in Aleppo perseveres in its mission of continuous prayer and help to families in need.
Published in International
July 9, 2018

Learn from the past to bring peaceful future to Middle East, pope says

Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, right, release doves as they stand with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople outside the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy, July 7. The Pope was meeting with Christian leaders for an ecumenical day of prayer for peace in the Middle East.

VATICAN CITY -- As war continues to threaten the land of Jesus' birth and to undermine the existence of Christian communities there, the international community must learn from the errors of the past and do more to bring lasting peace to the Middle East, Pope Francis said.

Published in International
June 25, 2018

Religions, governments must work for religious 'harmony', speakers say

Salwa Khalaf Rasho, a human rights activist who escaped Islamic State captivity, talks with Callista Gingrich, U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, during a symposium on religious freedom presented by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome June 25.
ROME – Promoting and protecting religious freedom is a shared priority of the United States and the Vatican, said Callista Gingrich, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
Published in International
June 22, 2018

Bishops, clergy in Middle East must not fall into sin of opulence, Pope says

A displaced Iraqi boy fills a bottle with water in Jada, Iraq, Aug. 9, 2017.
VATICAN – Although the sin of war committed by nations has caused great suffering to Christians in the Middle East, the Catholic Church must bear in mind its own sins, Pope Francis said.
Published in International
May 24, 2018

Editorial: Assault on dignity

Palestinian relatives in Gaza City mourn eight-month-old Layila al-Ghandour May 15 who died one day earlier from tear gas inhalation during clashes at the Gaza-Israel border. Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, the Vatican's observer at U.N. agencies in Geneva, urged people on both sides May 18 to let "wisdom and prudence prevail."

They are desperate, poor and usually forgotten until violence erupts and the world takes note of them burying their dead.

Published in Editorial
May 24, 2018

Gazans more desperate than ever after border clashes, says CRS official

The brother of Palestinian Shaher al-Madhoon, who was killed during a protest at the Israel-Gaza border, reacts over his body May 14 at a hospital morgue in Gaza.
JERUSALEM – Already in a precarious state, Gaza's health system faces a medical emergency, with more than 1,000 people injured in the recent Gaza border demonstrations that flared up since March 30.
Published in International
May 16, 2018

Pope expresses concern about 'spiral of violence' in Holy Land

A relative mourns during the funeral of 8-month-old Palestinian Laila al-Ghandour, who died after inhaling tear gas at the Israel-Gaza border during a May 15 protest against the U.S embassy move to Jerusalem.CNS photo/Mohammed Salem, Reuters
VATICAN – Warning that violence will never bring peace, Pope Francis urged all sides to do all they can to foster dialogue in the Middle East.
Published in International
May 16, 2018

Jerusalem archbishop calls for prayers for peace as violence increases

Mourners carry the body of 8-month-old Palestinian Laila al-Ghandour, who died after inhaling tear gas at the Israel-Gaza border during a May 15 protest against the U.S embassy move to Jerusalem.
JERUSALEM – As the world witnesses "another outburst of hatred and violence, which is once again bleeding all over the Holy Land," the head of Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate called for prayers for peace.
Published in International
April 30, 2018

Cries for peace in Syria louder than ever

Internally displaced Syrians wait in line for food April 15 at a camp outside Damascus. The United States, France and Britain launched airstrikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack.

OTTAWA – Catholic aid agencies that help Syrian and Iraqi refugees say a recent escalation of conflict in Syria has increased despair and heightened the call for peace from Christian leaders.

Published in International
April 25, 2018

Pope to host ecumenical prayer for peace in the Middle East

A Palestinian protester is seen at a tent near the Israel-Gaza Strip boarder April 17. The Arabic script reads, "We will return."
VATICAN – Pope Francis will travel to Bari, the southern Italian Adriatic port city, July 7 to host a day of reflection and ecumenical prayer for peace in the Middle East.
Published in International
February 28, 2018

Christianity's holiest site caught in tax protest

Tourists pray outside the locked doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Feb. 26 in Jerusalem's Old City. Protesting several recent actions they described as a "systematic campaign against the churches and the Christian community in the Holy Land," the heads of Christian churches announced Feb. 25 they were closing of the doors of the church.
JERUSALEM – Christian leaders in the Holy Land reopened the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Feb. 28 after the Israeli government set up a negotiating team to resolve a municipal dispute over property taxes.
Published in International
September 11, 2017

Cardinal Collins pleads for aid to Christian refugees

Cardinal Collins pleads for aid to Christian refugees

At an ecumenical prayer service for peace in the Middle East, Cardinal Thomas Collins made his most direct appeal yet for the Canadian government to pay special attention to Christian refugees as it distributes aid in the region and accepts refugees for resettlement.

Published in Canada
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