News/International

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong, is pictured in 2013 at Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The cardinal made a sudden decision to go to Rome on Jan. 10, 2018 to ensure that the Pope would hear his concerns regarding the Vatican's recent efforts of unification with China's communist government.

Vatican is selling out the Church in China, Cardinal Zen says

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HONG KONG – Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong has said proposals aimed at reconciling the Catholic Church in China and the government-backed Patriotic Catholic Association so concerned him that he traveled to Rome for a personal meeting with Pope Francis.
Pro-life advocates gather near the U.S. Supreme Court during the annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 19.

Pro-life leaders decry U.S. Senate's vote allowing late-term abortion

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WASHINGTON  – Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York decried the Senate's failure to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of gestation, and called on senators to "rethink" their stance on late-term abortions.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France, fourth from left, prays in 2007 in Medea, Algeria, during an interfaith service at the graves of the seven Trappist monks who were killed in 1996.

Pope recognizes martyrdom of 19 Algerians killed by Islamic terrorists

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VATICAN – Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of a bishop, seven Trappist monks and 11 other religious men and women killed by extremists in Algeria in the 1990s.
Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, centre, is congratulated by John Garvey, president of The Catholic University of America, Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, and Andrew Abela, the university's provost, after receiving an honorary doctorate of theology Nov. 14, 2017, at the university.

Pope revises norms for theology, philosophy studies to have a more 'missionary approach'

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VATICAN CITY – Catholic university programs in philosophy, theology and canon law – especially those designed for future priests – must be marked by fidelity to church tradition, academic rigor and an awareness of the challenges to belief in the modern world, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis greets newly married couples during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sept. 2015.

Young people need well-formed consciences for marriage, Pope says

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VATICAN – The Catholic Church must dedicate itself to properly forming and safeguarding the conscience of its faithful, especially young people so they can see God's plan for the sacrament of marriage as a great joy for the church and all of humanity, Pope Francis said.
Recipients and supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protest Jan. 22 outside Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

DACA youth worry immigration deal for them will unleash fear for others

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WASHINGTON – Young adults waiting to hear whether lawmakers will grant them the opportunity to stay in the country legally said they don't want Congress to offer an immigration deal that will help them but in turn produce fear and mass deportation among their parents and neighbors who are in the country illegally.
A Palestinian carries food supplies at a United Nations food distribution center in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City Jan. 15.

Catholic humanitarian groups ask U.S. to restore aid to Palestinian refugees

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JERUSALEM – The U.S. suspension of $65 million in aid to the U.N. agency that deals with Palestinian refugees alarmed advocates who work with Palestinians living in camps.
In this 2016 file photo, priests pray the Lord's Prayer as Pope Francis celebrates Mass for the Jubilee of Priests in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Lord's Prayer: Germans stick with wording; Italians to change at Mass

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ROME – After special study, the German bishops' conference decided to stick with the traditional wording in the Lord's Prayer while the Italian bishops' conference has decided to change the words of the prayer in their translation of the Roman Missal.
A retired bishop waits to hear confession from members of the congregation before Mass Dec. 23, 2016, at an unofficial Catholic church in Youtong village, Hebei Province, China.

Vatican tries to resolve split between Chinese bishops

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BEIJING, China – The Vatican’s efforts to resolve the split between underground Chinese bishops and the government-recognized Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association face another challenge, as an aging bishop faithful to Rome has reportedly declined a Vatican request to retire, to be replaced by a bishop favoured by the Chinese government.
Pope Francis kisses a baby as he arrives for his general audience Jan. 24 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Don't compromise on protecting minors from abuse, Pope says

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VATICAN – Pope Francis said he told the bishops and priests of Chile to be uncompromising when it comes to protecting minors from sexual abuse and to trust that God will purify and renew his church during this time of trial.
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, speaks Jan. 22 during the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Safeguard families and human dignity, Pope says to global leaders at Davos

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VATICAN – Global leaders must implement policies that support the family and offer real opportunities for the growth and development of all people, Pope Francis told people attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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