News/International

Irish golfer Shane Lowry poses with his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Iris, after winning the Open Championship July 21.

Irish parish shares in Lowry’s Open win

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CLARA, Ireland -- After Mass-goers’ prayers for golfer Shane Lowry were answered, there was “tremendous excitement” in his rural parish, said Fr. Joe Deegan, the local priest.

Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello announces his resignation in San Juan late July 24, 2019. Rossello resigned amid a torrent of protests over vulgar, mean-spirited texting conversations recently made public across the island.

Puerto Rican governor resigns amid massive protests

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VATICAN CITY -- After nearly two weeks of massive protests in the fallout of scandals involving corruption and offensive private messages, Gov. Ricardo Rossello of Puerto Rico resigned from office, becoming the first governor to do so in the island's history.

Participants take part in the city's first "Equality Parade" rally in support of the LGBT community in Bialystok, Poland, July 20, 2019.

Polish bishop criticizes anti-LGBT protesters

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WARSAW, Poland -- A Polish archbishop has condemned attacks on a gay pride rally by protesters claiming to be defending his cathedral.

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, the brother of retired Pope Benedict XVI, is pictured in Regensburg, Germany, April 2, 2012.

After new reports on German choir abuses, bishop vows to boost prevention

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WARSAW, Poland -- A German bishop has vowed to intensify "preventive measures" after two church-sponsored reports confirmed systemic violence and abuse at his diocese's cathedral schools between 1945 and 1995, including 30 years when their famous choir was run by Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, brother of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Bishops protest UK ‘hijacking’

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MANCHESTER, England -- Four Irish bishops said abortion and same-sex marriage is about to be imposed on Northern Ireland after British politicians “hijacked” a bill intended for other purposes.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., speaks during the annual March for Life rally in Washington Jan. 18, 2019. In an address during the State Department's second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in mid-July, Smith said the "world of faith is under siege."

'World of faith under siege,' threats are growing

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WASHINGTON -- The world is "filled with people in need," including the unborn, trafficking victims, those "suffering the agonies of addiction and abuse, people with disabilities and still others facing famine and disease, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey.

Car accident uncovers priest's 'prolonged history of theft'

Car accident uncovers priest's 'prolonged history of theft'

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SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Bishop Robert F. Vasa informed the Santa Rosa Diocese July 22 that a local pastor was recovering well from surgery for injuries he sustained in a car accident, but he also had to announce the incident had uncovered the priest's "prolonged history of theft."

Syriac Catholic Archbishop John Jihad Battah, newly named to Damascus, Syria, will be installed as archbishop July 28, 2019. He is pictured July 15 in the Church of the Monastery of Our Lady of Deliverance in Harissa, Lebanon.

New Damascus archbishop eager to give hope to tired faithful

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BEIRUT -- After eight years of war, the faithful in Damascus, Syria, are "so tired," said their new bishop, Syriac Catholic Archbishop John Jihad Battah. Nevertheless, he is returning to his birthplace with enthusiasm.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, pictured in a July 7, 2014, photo, is one of four Philippine bishops charged with sedition. In mid-July, police filed charges of inciting sedition, cyber libel, libel and obstruction of justice against more than 40 people, including the country's vice president and 35 members of the opposition.

Philippine bishops charged with sedition

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MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine church leaders said the filing of sedition charges against four Catholic bishops, three priests, and several government critics are "beyond belief."

Dr. Leana Wen, then Planned Parenthood president, speaks at a protest against restrictions on abortion outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington May 21, 2019. Following the July 16 news of Wen's firing, pro-life leaders remarked that the organization was upset the physician had emphasized the need to expand Planned Parenthood services beyond abortion.

Wen's firing said to show abortion is Planned Parenthood priority

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WASHINGTON -- Following the news Dr. Leana Wen was fired by Planned Parenthood as its president, several pro-life leaders remarked that the organization was upset the physician had emphasized the need to expand Planned Parenthood services beyond abortion.

Peter Jacob, executive director of the Center for Social Justice based in Lahore, Pakistan, gestures during an interview with a Catholic News Service reporter in Washington July 18, 2019. Looking on is Rubina Feroze Bhatti of Pakistan, a founding member and current general secretary of Taangh Wasaib Organization, a rights-based development group.

Mobs have killed 70 accused of blasphemy in Pakistan

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WASHINGTON -- Despite the blasphemy law that has roiled Christians in Pakistan, the government has not executed anyone found guilty at trial.

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