News/International

Medical staff are seen wearing protective clothing outside the Nightingale Hospital in London April 9, 2020. The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales recommended that, because of the lack of personal protective equipment, during the COVID-19 pandemic priests should counsel patients by telephone rather than give them last rites.

English bishops advising priests not to give last rites

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MANCHESTER, England -- Because of the lack of personal protective equipment, priests are being told to counsel dying COVID-19 patients by telephone rather than give them last rites.

Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli, a Catholic, is pictured in a 2016 file photo.

Tanzanian Catholic churches remain open despite worldwide closures

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NAIROBI, Kenya -- Catholic Churches in Tanzania are remaining open alongside other churches, even as the rest of world shuts places of worship to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Cardinal George Pell is seen in a car after being released from Barwon prison in Geelong, Australia, April 7, 2020.

Cardinal Pell released from prison after court overturns conviction

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VALLA BEACH, Australia -- Cardinal George Pell has been released from prison after 405 days behind bars after the seven judges of the High Court of Australia unanimously overturned the original December 2018 jury verdict that found him guilty on five counts of molesting two 13-year-old choirboys in 1996.

George Cardinal Pell

Cardinal Pell gives statement after conviction overturned

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(CNA) -- After his conviction for child sexual abuse was overturned Tuesday by Australia’s High Court, Cardinal George Pell has released a statement expressing gratitude to his family, friends, and legal team, and noting that he does not bear resentment toward his accuser.

This is a view of a closed church taken in Hama, Syria, March 22, 2020, as all religious gatherings are suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 does what war couldn't: close churches in Syria

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VATICAN CITY -- Cardinal Mario Zenari, the nuncio to Syria, said he is raising special prayers these days to Sts. Cosmas and Damian, fourth-century physicians who offered free care for the sick in Syria.

Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin, papal custodian of the Shroud of Turin, stands in front of the shroud during a preview for journalists in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, April 18. A public exposition of the shroud, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, runs from April 19 through June 24, 2015.

Shroud of Turin to be displayed on livestream for Holy Saturday

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VATICAN CITY -- With people forced to stay home, even during Holy Week, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the archbishop of Turin has announced a special online exposition of the Shroud of Turin, which many believe is the burial cloth of Jesus.

Australian Cardinal George Pell is seen in a 2017 file photo being escorted by police to the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Australian High Court to announce decision on Cardinal Pell's appeal

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VALLA BEACH, Australia -- Australian Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric convicted of child sexual abuse charges, will learn the fate of his final appeal to the country's High Court April 7.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, attends an interfaith prayer service in Yangon Oct. 10, 2017. Cardinal Bo, head of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, attacked the Chinese Communist Party for covering up the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and made it clear he was not criticizing the Chinese people.

Cardinal says Communist Party to blame for covering up COVID-19

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YANGON, Myanmar -- Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, called the Chinese Communist Party "morally culpable" for initially covering up the full dangers of the COVID-19 virus, which originated in Wuhan, China.

A man raises his arms in prayer at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale in Rome March 17, 2020. Many churches in Italy remain open for prayer amid a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Italian government clarifies lockdown rules for churches

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ROME -- While many churches in Italy remain open, visiting a church to pray is not a valid excuse for leaving one's home during Italy's COVID-19 lockdown, said a note from the Ministry for Internal Affairs.

Fr. Scott Holmer, a pastor in Bowie, Md., offers drive-through confessions in the parking lot of his parish church, keeping a safe distance away from penitents amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Priest takes confession to the parking lot

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WASHINGTON -- When public Masses in the Archdiocese of Washington were suspended in efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Fr. Scott Holmer, pastor at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Bowie, Md., got creative about bringing the sacraments to his local community.

Pro-life supporters stage a silent demonstration Nov. 30, 2019, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Abortion will become legal in Northern Ireland March 31.

Abortion legalized in Northern Ireland

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MANCHESTER, England -- The British government has pressed ahead with the legalization of abortion in Northern Ireland.

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