News/International

A tourist wearing a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus visits the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank, March 5, 2020.

Bethlehem holy sites to be closed after COVID-19 reported at hotel

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JERUSALEM -- The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem urged its faithful to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health, following its order March 5 to close all schools, universities, mosques and churches, including the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's field.

A sign indicating a unisex bathroom is seen in 2016 in North Carolina.

UN report on gender equality attacks religious freedom, says official

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GENEVA -- A United Nations report addressing gender-based violence and discrimination connected to religious beliefs "is now attacking the very reality it is called to defend," a Vatican representative told a U.N. meeting in Geneva.

Syrian refugees try to reach the Turkish-Greek border in Turkey Feb. 28, 2020. Turkey and Greece are trading blame following the deaths of Syrian refugees trying to flee to Europe.

Some concerned Turkish president is weaponizing Syrian refugees

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AMMAN, Jordan -- Turkey and Greece are trading blame following the deaths of Syrian refugees trying to flee to Europe, but some observers believe Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is weaponizing the Syrian refugee humanitarian crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Proposed amendment in Russia would define marriage as between a man and woman

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MOSCOW, Russia (CNA) -- A definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is among several amendments to the Russian constitution proposed by president Vladimir Putin.

A displaced Christian woman prays in front of a grotto with a statue of Mary in Kaya, Burkina Faso, May 16, 2019. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced out of their homes in Burkina Faso as Christian communities are targeted in a spiral of Islamist killings.

Hundreds of thousands forced to flee as attacks continue in Burkina Faso

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OXFORD, England -- Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced out of their homes in Burkina Faso as Christian communities are targeted in a spiral of Islamist killings.

A girl wearing a coronavirus-related protective face mask is pictured in London March 2, 2020.

Lourdes shrine closes healing pools as precaution against coronavirus

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ROME -- As the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus in Europe continued to grow, the French Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes announced that pilgrims were still welcome, but the pools the sick bathe in hoping for healing would be closed temporarily.

Following his weekly audience at the Vatican Feb. 12, 2020, Pope Francis blessed this "Dowry Painting" of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Catholic national shrine dedicated to Mary in Norfolk, England.

English Catholics to rededicate nation as 'Mary's Dowry'

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MANCHESTER, England -- Catholics are preparing for the historic rededication of England as "Mary's Dowry" in the hope that it will spur the re-evangelization of their country.

Ethiopian Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel is seen at the headquarters of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington Oct. 24, 2019.

Ethiopian cardinal, other church leaders barred from entering Eritrea

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NAIROBI, Kenya -- Ethiopian Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel and his delegation were barred from entering neighboring Eritrea, a development that underlines the souring relations between the church and the Eritrean authorities.

Father Francis Xavier Nguyen Duc Dai distributes food to local people while wearing a protective mask in Son Loi, Vietnam, Feb. 25, 2020. The area has been quarantined due to the coronavirus.

China closes places of worship in effort to contain COVID-19

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YANGON, Myanmar -- The Chinese government has temporarily closed all of the country's places of worship in an effort to contain the COVID-19 respiratory coronavirus that has now killed almost 3,000 people, with more than 80,000 around the world verified with infections.

Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities, is pictured in a March 11, 2015, photo. On Feb. 23, 2020, Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, revoked the Notre Dame Award conferred upon Vanier in 1994 after an investigation by L'Arche found credible allegations that Vanier sexually exploited six women. Vanier, who died in 2019, asked the women to keep their relations secret.

University of Notre Dame revokes awards given to L'Arche founder Vanier

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Notre Dame Feb. 23 revoked the Notre Dame Award that was conferred upon Jean Vanier in 1994 after the L'Arche organization he established found credible allegations that Vanier sexually exploited six women.

Australian Cardinal George Pell is depicted in this courtroom sketch during his June 5, 2019, appearance at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne.

Australian High Court releases Cardinal Pell's appeal submissions

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CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia's High Court has released the full set of submissions for Cardinal George Pell's March 11 and 12 final appeal hearing against historic child sexual abuse crimes.

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