News/International

Indigenous people react during protests against Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno's austerity measures in Quito, Ecuador, Oct.11, 2019. Ecuadorian observers at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican are keeping an eye on massive protests that have claimed the lives of at least five people in their country.

Ecuador's president rolls back austerity measures that triggered protests

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ROME -- Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno met with indigenous leaders and agreed to roll back austerity measures that had sparked 10 days of protests.

Pope Francis, tweeting about the new saints he recognized Oct. 13, inadvertently used a hashtag connected to the New Orleans Saints football team. But fans appreciated it, as did the team.

Papal tweet of support for 'Saints' goes viral

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VATICAN CITY -- A hashtag mix-up caused a papal tweet meant to give thanks for the Catholic Church's newest saints to be read as Pope Francis showing support for the New Orleans Saints' football team.

Members of Syrian National Army, known as the Free Syrian Army, react as they drive on top of an armored vehicle Oct. 11, 2019, in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar. Dozens of advocacy organizations participating in the International Religious Freedom Roundtable called on U.S. President Donald Trump "not to abandon Christians, Yazidis and Kurds" in the Syrian border region that Turkey is bombing.

Advocates implore Trump not to abandon Christians, Yazidis, Kurds in Syria

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AMMAN, Jordan -- Christians concerned with religious freedom violations resulting from the Turkish military offensive on northeastern Syria are urging U.S. President Donald Trump to "reconsider and reverse" his Oct. 6 decision to move American troops out of the way of a Turkish incursion.

In a Sept. 16, 2019, photo, the building of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer's abortion business is seen in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind. Pro-life supporters there are asking for a search warrant to determine if more fetal remains will be found in the building. The Illinois physician died Sept. 3, 2019, and the remains of fetuses he took from the now-shuttered Indiana clinic were found in his home.

More fetal remains found in connection with Indiana abortionist

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill released new details Oct. 9 about the discovery of additional fetal remains in Illinois that are believed to be linked with abortions performed in Indiana.

Activists and supporters block the street outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Oct. 8, 2019, as it hears arguments in three major employment discrimination cases on whether federal civil rights law prohibiting workplace discrimination on the "basis of sex" covers gay and transgender employees.

U.S. Supreme Court divided over protections for LGBT employees

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WASHINGTON -- On the second day of the Supreme Court's new term, a divided court Oct. 8 heard oral arguments from three cases concerning protections for gay, lesbian and transgender employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts.

A Turkish milItary convoy is pictured in Kilis near the Turkish-Syrian border Oct. 9, 2019. Turkish warplanes have begun attacking northeastern Syria, causing widespread panic among Christian and other religious communities caught up in the aerial bombardments.

Turkish planes bomb Syria, causing panic among Christians, others

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AMMAN, Jordan -- Turkish warplanes have begun attacking northeastern Syria, causing widespread panic among Christian and other religious communities caught up in the aerial bombardments.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, leaves a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment is pictured at the Vatican in this Oct. 5, 2018, file photo.

Cardinal Sarah warns against opposing the pope

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VATICAN CITY -- Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, said the people who portray him as an opponent of Pope Francis are being used by the devil to help divide the church.

Protesters in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, clash with security forces Oct. 4, 2019, during a demonstration to demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moise. As Port-au-Prince began its fourth week of paralysis due to serious social unrest, the Haitian bishops' justice and peace commission called on Moise to step down.

Haitian bishops call on president to step down amid riots

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- As Port-au-Prince began its fourth week of paralysis due to serious social unrest, the Haitian bishops' justice and peace commission called on President Jovenel Moise to step down.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

European bishops echo Pope Francis' call for 'new humanism'

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OXFORD, England -- Europe's Catholic bishops urged their citizens to "wake up" and find new hope by rediscovering the continent's Christian roots.

An usher hands the collection basket to a Massgoer Oct. 28, 2018, at Jesus the Divine Word Church in Huntingtown, Md. Nearly nine in 10 Catholics surveyed said they want their donations to church institutions to be ethically invested and a majority of those responding voiced particular opposition to investments in companies that produce pornography, tobacco products and e-cigarettes, according to a new survey.

Poll: Catholics want donations ethically invested

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WASHINGTON -- Nearly nine in 10 Catholics surveyed said they want their donations to church institutions to be ethically invested and a majority of those responding voiced particular opposition to investments in companies that produce pornography, tobacco products and e-cigarettes, according to a new survey.

Bishop Charles Drennan of Palmerston North, New Zealand, resigned following a complaint of unacceptable behavior of a sexual nature, the Vatican announced Oct. 4.

New Zealand bishop resigns after abuse investigation

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan of Palmerston North.

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