News/International

Migrants awake at sunrise near a baseball field after crossing the Rio Grande into La Joya, Texas, March 19. Dallas Catholic Charities is aiding up to 3,000 migrant teenagers housed at a convention centre.

Catholics, faith agencies aid migrant teens

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DALLAS -- Dallas Catholics were quick to step up after federal officials announced that a downtown Dallas facility would house up to 3,000 migrant teenagers.

People stand amid smoke and flames after a fire broke out at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, March 22, 2021. The fire swept through the camp, killing at least five people, destroying homes and endangering the lives of tens of thousands of refugees, camp officials said.

Fire claims at least 15 lives at Rohingya refugee camp

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Even as the last of five fires was still out of control among clusters of tents and shelters that house 600,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Caritas Bangladesh head of programs Abdullah Fuad was thinking of the women and children who have now endured one more disaster. “We are still counting the number of damaged households and the number of people affected,” he told The Catholic Register just hours after the fire broke out on March 22.

A woman prays alongside a barrier inside the Cologne Cathedral in Germany March 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catholic bishops say Christians in Europe are not being persecuted, but some governments have diminished religious freedom during the pandemic.

European bishops warn of threats to religious freedom during pandemic

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OXFORD, England -- A commission of Catholic bishops warned religious freedom is threatened in the European Union, as restrictive laws are imposed in the wake of COVID-19.

People carry banners and opposition flags during a demonstration marking the 10th anniversary of the start of the Syrian conflict, in the opposition-held city of Idlib, Syria, March 15, 2021. As Syria marks 10 years of devastating conflict, the country is in economic and social shambles with millions of people displaced and millions more living below the poverty line.

Poverty hitting Syrians hard even as fighting wanes

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VATICAN CITY -- Food, cooking fuel, jobs and, especially, hope are hard to come by in Syria, said two Catholic leaders reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the war.

Pro-life supporters are pictured holding signs outside the High Court in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jan. 30, 3019.

Legislators vote to stop abortions of disabled fetuses in Northern Ireland

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MANCHESTER, England -- Politicians in Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill to prevent the late-term abortions of babies with disabilities.

People hold candles as they take part in an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar, March 14, 2021.

U.N. condemns Myanmar bloodshed; cardinal criticizes 'brutality, violence'

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YANGON, Myanmar -- The United Nations and human right groups have strongly condemned the worsening bloodshed in Myanmar as at least 38 people were killed in the military's crackdown on protesters March 14.

A file photo shows seized firearms in Manila, Philippines. Philippine church leaders have joined rights organizations to denounce and call for an investigation into the killing of nine activists by security forces in raids in four Philippine provinces March 7, 2021 that authorities said were tied to illegal activity.

Slaying of nine Filipino activists in raid sparks outrage

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MANILA, Philippines -- A Catholic bishop and a lay group have joined rights organizations to denounce and call for an investigation into the killing of nine activists by security forces in raids in four Philippine provinces March 7.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., addresses a news conference with fellow congressional Democrats at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Feb. 25, 2021, ahead of expected House passage of the Equality Act. The measure passed in a 224-206 vote.

Equality Act could discriminate against faithful

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The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a 224-206 vote Feb. 25.

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, Germany, is pictured in a Feb. 2, 2021, photo.

Lawyer: New report on abuse in Cologne will incriminate church officials

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COLOGNE, Germany -- The second expert report commissioned to investigate abuse in the Archdiocese of Cologne also incriminates church officials who are still alive and accuses them of mistakes in dealing with cases of sexualized violence, according to its author, Björn Gercke.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington is seen Nov. 26, 2020.

U.S. Supreme Court lifts ban on indoor worship in California county

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WASHINGTON -- A Supreme Court decision allowing indoor worship services in Santa Clara county, California, was praised by Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San Jose, located in the county where the ban had been in effect.

Demonstrators flash the three-finger salute March 1, 2021, during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar.

At least 18 die in Myanmar coup protests

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YANGON, Myanmar -- Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon called for patience and tolerance on a day when at least 18 anti-coup protesters were shot dead by Myanmar security forces. 

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