News/International

Displaced Christians attend a church service in Kaya, Burkina Faso, May 16, 2019.

Burkina Faso church appeals for protection against terror attacks

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OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso -- A bishop leader in Burkina Faso called on the world to stop the massacre of Christians by foreign-backed Islamist groups that are "better armed and equipped" than government forces.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines, speaks at the Vatican Oct. 23, 2018. He asked Catholics to recite a "Prayer for the Nation" at weekend Masses during August as several church leaders face charges of sedition and cyber libel for their criticisms of the government.

Thousands of Philippine Catholics march to defend church leaders

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MANILA, Philippines -- Catholics in a northern Philippines archdiocese marched in support of church leaders accused of conspiring to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte.

Volunteer firefighters extinguish hot spots July 29, 2019, after fire destroyed the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, Texas. Since 1883 the parish has served the Catholic community of southwestern Falls County, many of whom are descendents of immigrants from the northwest German region of Westphalia.

Fire destroys 'treasured' historic Catholic church in Texas

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WESTPHALIA, Texas -- The Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, a nearly 125-year-old wooden church with bell towers on each side, burned to the ground July 29.

Edith Smith holds a sign while praying with a finger rosary during a Life Chain event in front of Immaculate Conception Church in Goose Creek, S.C., Oct. 7, 2018. The number of abortions occurring annually in South Carolina continues to fall, a trend welcomed by advocates who credit pro-life legislation and increased public awareness for the decline.

Abortion rate falling in South Carolina

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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The number of abortions occurring annually in South Carolina continues to fall, a trend welcomed by advocates who credit pro-life legislation and increased public awareness for the decline.

Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan, Poland, is pictured in a 2015 photo.

Polish bishop condemns 'worsening attacks' on clergy, churches

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WARSAW, Poland -- The president of the Polish bishops' conference condemned attacks on clergy and places of worship in the traditionally Catholic country as the church countered media accusations of inciting violence against LGBTQ groups.

Jesuit Father Renato Poblete Barth.

Jesuits publish inquiry results, confirm abuses by famed priest

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VATICAN CITY -- While deceased Jesuit Father Renato Poblete Barth was known publicly as a champion of the poor in Chile, an internal investigation funded by the Jesuits revealed that the famed clergyman abused more than a dozen women over a span of nearly 50 years.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, pictured in a April 3, 2019, photo, signed the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act April 12, effective Aug. 1.

N.J. assisted suicide law an 'utter failure' of government

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METUCHEN, N.J. -- New Jersey's new law allowing assisted suicide, effective Aug. 1, "points to an "utter failure" on the part of government and indeed all society, said Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen.

Nick Sandmann, a junior at Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Ky., and others students from the school stand in front of Native American Nathan Phillips near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington in this still image from video Jan. 18, 2019. A federal judge July 26 dismissed a $250 million lawsuit against The Washington Post by Sandmann saying the newspaper's articles and tweets about the student's actions during the annual March for Life in January were protected by the First Amendment.

Judge dismisses Covington Catholic student's suit against newspaper

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WASHINGTON -- A federal judge July 26 dismissed a $250 million lawsuit against The Washington Post by a Kentucky Catholic high school student, ruling the newspaper's articles and tweets about the student's actions after the annual March for Life in January were protected by the First Amendment.

People gather on a field after twin earthquakes struck Batanes province on the northernmost island of the Philippines, July 27, 2019. Bishop Danilo Ulep of the Batanes prelature has appealed for prayers and help for victims of the disaster.

Philippine bishop appeals for help for hundreds of earthquake victims

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MANILA, Philippines -- A Catholic bishop in the northernmost island of the Philippines has appealed for prayers and help for victims of twin earthquakes that rocked Batanes province July 27.

St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson is pictured in a Nov. 24, 2014, photo. As the Archdiocese of St. Louis released a list of names of archdiocesan clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor July 26, 2019, Archbishop Robert Carlson acknowledged that seeing the names "will be painful" and publishing them "will not change the past."

Release of abuse allegations 'painful,' but 'right thing to do'

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WASHINGTON -- As the Archdiocese of St. Louis released a list of names of archdiocesan clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor July 26, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson acknowledged that seeing the names "will be painful" and publishing them "will not change the past."

Father Tom McNally prays with death-row inmate Eric Wrinkles at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City in this Dec. 18, 2008, file photo. Wrinkles, who experienced a religious awakening in prison, was executed for triple-murderer Dec. 11, 2009. In Texas, a group of nearly 200 faith leaders, including 18 Catholics, signed a statement sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice July 23, 2019, asking the department to change its policy banning prison chaplains from execution chambers.

Texas faith leaders say chaplains shouldn't be banned from executions

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WASHINGTON -- More than 180 faith leaders in Texas, including 18 Catholics, signed a statement sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice July 23 asking the agency to change its policy banning prison chaplains from execution chambers.

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