News/International

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bills May 25, saying he has kept his promise to voters to "sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk."

Cordileone 'courageous' for Pelosi statement according to some bishops

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A number of U.S. Catholic bishops praised San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone for his "courageous" action in declaring May 20 that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is not "to be admitted" to Communion because of her stand on legalized abortion.

Cardinal Zen charged with improperly registering fund, pleads not guilty

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Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and several others pleaded not guilty in a Hong Kong court to charges of failing to properly register a now-defunct fund to help anti-government protesters.

Chinese bishop's whereabouts remain unknown a year after his arrest

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A Vatican-approved Chinese bishop remains in detention more than one year after his arrest for allegedly violating the communist country's repressive regulations on religious affairs.

Military burns houses, destroying villages in northwest Myanmar

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At least 320 of the estimated 350 households in the historic Catholic village of Chaung Yoe were burned during a military raid May 20, local sources told ucanews.com.

Vatican foreign minister visits Ukraine in sign of solidarity, support

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Seeing scenes of a war on television is one thing, "touching this reality is another," Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, said in Ukraine.

New South Wales becomes last Australian state to pass assisted dying law

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The Parliament of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, has passed a law allowing people to choose assisted dying under certain circumstances. It was the last of the country's six states to enact such legislation.

Vatican's foreign minister travels to Ukraine

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Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, was set to visit Ukraine May 18-20, meeting with church and government officials, people displaced by the war and towns destroyed by Russian bombings.

Chaos, curfew after arrests in mob murder of student accused of blasphemy

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Catholic churches in Sokoto suspended Masses May 15 as the governor imposed a 24-hour curfew to quell violence during protests against the arrest of young men for the May 12 murder of Deborah Yakubu.

Citing 'police state,' Cardinal Bo urges prayers for Hong Kong

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Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, urged prayers for Hong Kong after the detention of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.

UK punishing asylum-seekers, bishops say

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The U.K. government is unfairly punishing English Channel migrants for the crimes of human traffickers by sending the migrants to Rwanda to have asylum applications processed, said the English and Welsh bishops.