News/International

The casket with the body of the Rev. Billy Graham arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Feb. 28.

Leaders honour Rev. Billy Graham at U.S. Capitol ceremony

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and congressional leaders paid tribute to the Rev. Billy Graham Feb. 28 in a brief ceremony before the public could pay respects to the evangelist while he lies in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
A woman reacts to Pope Francis' final words during the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in this 2015 file photo. The next meeting will take place Aug. 21-26 in Dublin.

World Meeting of Families to focus on 'Amoris Laetitia', fatherhood, Catholic education

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DUBLIN – Some of the church's best-known prelates have been lined up to expound on church teachings on the family for the ninth World Meeting of Families.
Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich-Freising, president of the German bishops' conference, and Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne concelebrate Mass March 6 during the opening of the annual meeting of Germany's bishops at the cathedral in Cologne

German bishops rework Communion rules for mixed denomination marriages

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BERLIN – The German bishops' conference continues to develop its recent decision to allow non-Catholic spouses in mixed denomination marriages to receive Communion in limited cases.
Pope Francis leads the 18th meeting of his Council of Cardinals at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2017. The Council of Cardinals, often referred to as the C9, held its first meeting of the year Feb. 26-28 with Pope Francis.

Pope, cardinal advisers studying regional tribunals for abuse cases

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VATICAN – Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals discussed the possibility of establishing regional tribunals around the world that would judge cases of sexual abuse allegedly committed by clergy, the Vatican spokesman said.
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.

Christianity's holiest site caught in tax protest

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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.
Consecrated hosts found intact more than a year after church destroyed by earthquake

Consecrated hosts found intact more than a year after church destroyed by earthquake

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ROME – Almost a year and a half after an August 2016 earthquake in the central area of the Italy, a tabernacle with 40 intact and consecrated hosts was found amid the rubble in Our Lady of the Assumption church in the town of Arquata.
Sisters of Mercy and others pray inside the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington Feb. 27 during a "Catholic Day of Action for Dreamers" protest to press Congress to protect "Dreamers."

Dozens of Catholics arrested as they call on Congress to help 'Dreamers'

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WASHINGTON – Dozens of Catholics, including men and women religious, were arrested near the U.S. Capitol Feb. 27 in the rotunda of a Senate building in Washington as they called on lawmakers to help young undocumented adults brought to the U.S. as minors obtain some sort of permanent legal status.

A protester prays in front of policemen in front of Notre Dame Cathedral Feb. 25 in Kinshasa, Congo.

Four dead after Catholic Lay Committee protests in Congo

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KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Four Congolese protesters were shot dead Feb. 25, during demonstrations organized by Catholics protesting President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down from power.
Activists and recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, march up Broadway in New York City Feb. 15 during the start of their "Walk to Stay Home," a five-day 250-mile walk from New York to Washington to demand that Congress pass a clean DREAM Act to save the program.

Court blocks Trump administration's effort to end DACA in March

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a blow to the Trump administration's effort to end a program in March that protects young adults brought to the U.S. without legal permission as minors.
A young woman displays a placard as a nun prays the rosary Feb. 24 during a protest against plans to reimpose the death penalty and intensify the drug war during a "Walk for Life" rally at a park in Manila, Philippines.

In marches around Philippines, Catholics protest threats to life

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MANILA, Philippines – Catholics came out strongly against what they described as "threats to life" in rallies held in major cities across the Philippines Feb. 24.
The Colosseum in Rome is lit in red to draw attention to the persecution of Christians around the world.

Rome Colosseum cloaked in red to honour modern martyrs

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ROME – Rome's Colosseum, long a symbol of the persecution of early Christians, was bathed in red light late Feb. 24 as a reminder of and a prayer for the thousands of Christians being persecuted for their faith today.
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