News/International

In a live morning broadcast on Twitter Dec. 18, Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said he was not told directly by the Vatican that he has been laicized.

Pope Francis returns Parthenon marbles in Vatican collection to Greece

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Expressing his desire to bear witness to "the truth," Pope Francis is returning three marble fragments that were originally from the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, according to the Vatican.

Russia says Vatican apologized for Pope Francis' remarks

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The Vatican has had diplomatic contact with Russia regarding comments Pope Francis made about Russian minorities being responsible for the worst acts of cruelty in the country's war on Ukraine.

Activists urge action to protect biodiversity

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With scientists warning that the loss of nature is accelerating at dangerous speeds, Catholic activists are urging nations at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal to act to protect life on Earth at all levels.

Court strikes down Biden’s transgender mandate

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The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis Dec. 9 permanently blocked a transgender mandate the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had implemented as a revision to the Affordable Care Act.

Hackers planted false files implicating Indian Jesuit who died in prison

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Catholic activists and priests want the Indian government to "take full responsibility" for the custodial death of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy after findings by U.S.-based digital forensic experts that false evidence was planted on the priest's computer.

Diplomacy, Vatican-style: relationships key

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Ken Hackett, former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, said he was advised early on that diplomacy with the Vatican was about relationships, not transactions.

Chairman of Cologne’s abuse commission resigns

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The state-appointed chairman of the commission to investigate abuse in the Archdiocese of Cologne has quit, saying he doubted the independence of the commission and wondered whether its main aim was to protect Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki.

Indian court orders police protection for Vatican appointee

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A top court in the southern Indian state of Kerala has ordered police protection for the apostolic administrator of an archdiocese in the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, which is embroiled in a bitter liturgical dispute.

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Ukraine to show support as winter begins

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Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby spent three days in Ukraine to show solidarity with the people there. It was the first visit of an archbishop of Canterbury to an independent Ukraine.

U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to support web designer in free speech case

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In a case examining the scope of free speech protected by the First Amendment, the Supreme Court Dec. 5 ultimately seemed to favor a broad view of free speech.