News/International

U.S. appeals court dismisses sexual abuse lawsuit against Vatican

U.S. appeals court dismisses sexual abuse lawsuit against Vatican

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VATICAN CITY - At the request of a man allegedly abused by a priest in 1965, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed his case claiming the Vatican was the priest's employer and could be liable for damages.

Italian official says 'it seems' Italian Jesuit was kidnapped in Syria

Italian official says 'it seems' Italian Jesuit was kidnapped in Syria

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VATICAN CITY - After more than a week with no word from Jesuit Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, an Italian priest who worked for decades in Syria, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said, "it seems he has been kidnapped by an Islamist group" that is a "local version of al-Qaida," the terrorist group.

The Institute for the Works of Religion, popularly known as the Vatican bank, is seen in a 2009 photo.

Vatican bank launches website to boost transparency, media relations

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VATICAN CITY - In an effort to shake its image as a secretive, scandal-ridden institute and improve its relationship with the media, the Vatican bank has launched its own website.

Residents rummage through the damage and debris left of their homes for their belongings after what activists said was an air attack from forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar Assad in Aleppo July 27. The war in Syria is like a factory churning out no thing but death, destruction and suffering, said Archbishop Mario Zenari, the Vatican nuncio to Syria.

Syria's war creates havoc, priest's whereabouts unknown, nuncio says

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VATICAN CITY - The war in Syria is like a factory churning out nothing but death, destruction and suffering, said Archbishop Mario Zenari, Vatican nuncio to Syria.

A sign with a crucifix and rosary are seen during a pro-life demonstration July 10 outside the Irish Parliament in Dublin ahead of a vote to allow limited abortion in Ireland. President Michael D. Higgins signed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bi ll into law July 30.

Ireland's pro-lifers vow to repeal new abortion law

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DUBLIN - Irish pro-life campaigners vowed to work to repeal a new law that permits abortion in limited circumstances.

A firefighter walks amid the wreckage of a bus that crashed near the town of Avellino in southern Italy July 29. At least 38 people died when the bus filled with pilgrims returning from a Catholic shrine tour plunged off an elevated highway.

At least 38 pilgrims killed in crash after visiting Padre Pio shrine

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VATICAN CITY - At least 38 pilgrims were killed on their way home from the Padre Pio shrine when their bus plunged off an elevated highway.

An overhead view of the wreckage of a train crash is seen July 24 in Galicia, Spain, near the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela. At least 77 people died and more than 100 others were injured when the train derailed, the president of the regional government said.

Pope prays for victims of train wreck in Spain

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis sent condolences to the archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, after a train crash left at least 80 dead and more than 100 injured.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster pictured in a 2010 photo.

British bishops: Despite law, church can't accept gay marriage

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LONDON - The legalization of gay marriage cannot change Christian teaching on sexual morality, and the Catholic Church cannot accept marriages of same-sex couples, the bishops of England and Wales said in a document that was to be distributed in parishes July 27-28.

Pope Francis has 7.2 million followers spread across nine different language accounts.

Pope is most influential, second most-followed world leader on Twitter

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis is the most influential world leader on Twitter, with the highest number of retweets worldwide.

A Free Syrian Army fighter carries his weapon as he runs to take cover in Aleppo's Salaheddine neighborhood July 23. Archbishop Francis A. Chullikatt, papal nuncio to the United Nations, criticized the "persistent refusal" of Syria's warring factions to negotiate an end to the country's 28-month-long civil war.

Nuncio criticizes both sides in Syrian conflict for not ending crisis

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UNITED NATIONS - The papal nuncio to the United Nations criticized the "persistent refusal" of Syria's warring factions to negotiate an end to the country's 28-month-long civil war.

A man walks past the Red River Women's Clinic July 2 in Fargo, N.D. A federal judge July 22 temporarily blocked North Dakota's new abortion law, which bans ending a pregnancy once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks. Th e ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by Red River Women's Clinic, the only abortion clinic in the state.

Federal judge stops enforcement of North Dakota fetal heartbeat law

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BISMARCK, N.D. - A U.S. federal judge's temporary injunction stopping enforcement of a new North Dakota law barring abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected "is not surprising and is typical in most legal challenges to pro-life laws," said the North Dakota Catholic Conference.

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