News/International

Pro-life advocates in Dallas take part in a March for Life rally Jan. 15, 2022.

Appeals court sends challenge to Texas abortion law to state Supreme Court

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WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court sent a challenge to the Texas abortion law back to the state's Supreme Court Jan. 17.

A delegate holds a program during an international conference, "Our Common Mission of Safeguarding God's Children," in Warsaw, Poland, Sept. 21, 2021. The Diocese of Bielsko-Zywiec has apologized after its lawyer suggested a former altar boy could have enjoyed being sexually molested by a priest.

Polish diocese apologizes after abuse comment

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WARSAW, Poland -- A Polish diocese apologized after its lawyer suggested a former altar server could have enjoyed being sexually molested by a priest, as a spokesman for victims warned the church still had "a long way to go" in combating abuse.

An aerial view shows the Cathedral of Our Lady in Munich Sept. 5, 2021. As Germans await publication of a report on how leaders of the Archdiocese of Munich handled cases of historic abuse, a canon lawyer casts doubt on accusations against retired Pope Benedict XVI over possible negligence.

German canon lawyer: Wait for abuse report before casting blame

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MUNICH -- As Germans await publication of a report on how leaders of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising handled cases of historic abuse, a canon lawyer casts doubt on accusations against retired Pope Benedict XVI over possible negligence.

Members of the Missionaries of Charity pray in Kolkata, India, Aug. 26, 2021. The order’s renewal application under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act was at first not approved, which meant the nuns in India may not use any foreign currency account. The Indian government changed its stance Jan. 7.

India’s change of plan sees Missionaries of Charity able to access foreign funds

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NEW DELHI -- The Indian government has restored the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act registration of the Missionaries of Charity, clearing the decks for the globally renowned charity to receive and utilize foreign funds, reported ucanews.com.

Firefighters respond to an apartment building fire in the Bronx borough of New York City Jan. 9, 2022. Pope Francis sent his condolences to families of the people killed in the fire.

Pope, cardinal offer condolences to victims of Bronx fire

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WASHINGTON -- Pope Francis issued condolences to families of those killed in an Jan. 9 apartment building blaze in the Bronx that killed 17 people, including eight children.

Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, died at age 90 on Dec. 26.

A life of hope and justice: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s compassion and sense of humour, as well as his commitment to justice and processes of peace, were among the many reasons he was an icon, said Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg.

Ethnic Uyghur demonstrators take part in a protest against China in Istanbul Oct. 1, 2021.

China forbids foreigners from spreading religious content online

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In the U.S.-China rivalry that involves a complex mix of diplomacy, trade wars and sanctions, religion has come under increased pressure after the communist regime banned online propagation of religion by foreign nationals, purportedly to make religion more Chinese-oriented.

A woman is pictured in a file photo praying at St. Anthony church in Yangon, Myanmar.

Catholics hold funeral after Myanmar massacre; attacks continue

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YANGON, Myanmar -- For Christians in Chin and Kayah states, there were no Christmas and New Year celebrations due to fighting. They have borne the brunt of a decades-old civil war and faced oppression and persecution at the hands of the military, reported ucanews.com.

Pictured is a blank page from a traditional baptismal register.

Southern Italian diocese temporarily bans naming of godparents

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A second diocese in Sicily, where the Mafia has had a significant presence for decades, announced a temporary ban on the naming of godparents for baptisms and confirmations.

Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescue residents stranded by floods caused by Typhoon Rai in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. The storm has claimed more than 200 lives and Caritas Philippines has appealed for donations to bolster its emergency response.

Caritas appeals for aid after typhoon claims over 200 lives in Philippines

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MANILA, Philippines -- Super Typhoon Rai has claimed more than 200 lives since making landfall in the Visayas and Mindanao region, Philippine authorities said.

A farmer walks past an abandon military tank in Ethiopia's Tigray region Dec. 7, 2021. International human rights organizations said the regional Amhara security forces and an allied militia known as Fano were responsible for a surge in mass detentions, killings and forced expulsions of ethnic Tigrayans.

Human rights groups raise alarm over new atrocities in Western Tigray

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NAIROBI, Kenya -- International human rights organizations have warned of a new wave of atrocities in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, as Catholic Church leaders continued to express concerns over the detention of priests, nuns and lay members.

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