News/International

Emmanuel and Maria Rosevilla Margate pose for a photo with family members outside their home in Tacloban, Philippines, Feb. 10. The family huddled together in their block home Nov. 8, 2013, as Typhoon Haiyan made shambles of many homes in their community known as Barangay 54A.

Filipino woman who saved dozens wants to stay in Tacloban community she loves

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Mention the name of Maria Rosevilla Margate and many of the residents of the community known as Barangay 54A nod approvingly. They know exactly where to find her.

American baseball player Babe Ruth, publicity photo, 1918, Boston Red Sox

Babe Ruth's first baseball field at Catholic school to be preserved in Baltimore

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BALTIMORE - The baseball field where legendary slugger Babe Ruth learned to play the game is being preserved.

Thousands of people march in Madrid Feb. 8 to protest government legislation to limit abortions. The bill will restrict abortion rights to cases of rape and severe risk to a woman's physical or mental health.

Spanish bishop says no abortions OK, even though conference backs bill

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MADRID - A Spanish bishop urged medical personnel to stop performing all abortions, even though the church has backed new legislation that would still allow abortion in cases of rape.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, the leader of Indian Catholicism

Worldwide, Catholic bishop split on anti-gay laws

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The Roman Catholic hierarchy has generally been viewed as a unified bloc in opposition to gay rights, but the emergence of especially punitive measures against gays in various countries has opened unusually stark and public fissures among bishops in different nations.

Pro-European Union protesters pray during a rally on Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine.

Ukraine Church leader seeks prayers of solidarity

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WASHINGTON - Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, Ukraine, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, capped a week-long visit to the United States by asking all people of goodwill to join Ukrainian Catholics in prayer to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine.

A child receives polio drops at a polio booth in the central Indian city of Bhopal in this 2008 file photo. Church workers said that, in some areas of India, it was difficult convincing mothers that administering polio drops would not make their children impotent.

Church workers rejoice, recall challenges as India declared polio-free

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KOTTAYAM, India - As the World Health Organization declared India "polio-free" Feb. 11, church health workers celebrated and reflected on the challenges they faced convincing parents to allow their children to get the vaccine.

Bas-relief honouring Korean martyrs at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. On Feb. 7 Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of 124 Catholics who were killed during widespread persecution in Korea in the 18th through 19th centuries.

Pope Francis clears way for beatification of 124 Korean martyrs

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of 124 Catholics who were killed during widespread persecution in Korea in the 18th through 19th centuries.

People enter a makeshift chapel on the Maidan, Independence Square, in Kiev. Tent-chapels have become common whenever Ukrainians are protesting against the government of President Viktor Yanukovich and his decision to walk away from an agreement with the European Union that was 11 years in the making.

Prayer and protest converge in Ukraine

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Canadians are understandably disturbed that anonymous, state-supported thugs can kidnap, beat, mutilate and crucify a protest leader in Ukraine, but they should also think of the terror faced by ordinary citizens, Ukrainian Catholics told The Catholic Register.

Syrian refugees living in Jordan wait to receive humanitarian supplies in Amman Feb. 5. Syrians fleeing to neighboring Jordan from the besieged central city of Homs said some people there are starving to death for lack of food.

Syrians fleeing to Jordan say Homs residents starving from lack of food

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MAFRAQ, Jordan - Syrians fleeing to neighboring Jordan from the besieged central city of Homs said some people there are starving to death for lack of food.

Italian police recovered the venerated piece of fabric stained with Blessed John Paul II’s blood less than a week after the relic was stolen.

Police recover stolen relic of Blessed John Paul II

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VATICAN CITY - Less than a week after a relic of Blessed John Paul II disappeared from a country chapel east of Rome, Italian police recovered the venerated piece of fabric stained with the late pope’s blood.

The Scottish Parliament passed a bill on Feb. 4 that will allow same-sex marriages to be performed later this year, but religious organizations have the right not to perform them.

Scotland passes same-sex marriage law, with opt-in for religious groups

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EDINBURGH, Scotland - The Scottish Parliament has passed a bill that will allow same-sex marriages to be performed later this year, but religious organizations have the right not to perform them.

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