News/International

Residents of Cedar Crest Drive in Abilene, Texas, walk past their burning house Feb. 15, 2021, as firefighters fight the blaze. The firefighters were only able to draw water from one hydrant because all three city water treatment plants were offline due to cold weather power outages.

Severe weather prompts emergency response from church leaders as Lent begins

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CLEVELAND -- Below-zero temperatures, teeth-chattering wind chills and deep snow turned the southern Plains into an Arctic landscape, forcing Catholic Charities agencies to adopt emergency measures to get people to safety.

Workers disinfect the interior of a mosque to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as students continue to study in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, Feb. 15. As part of COVID-19 precautions, the Iraqi government has ordered the closure of mosques and churches “until further notice.”

Iraq tightens restrictions ahead of Pope’s visit

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VATICAN CITY -- Two days after the Iraqi government announced stringent COVID-19 precautions, including the closure of mosques and churches “until further notice,” the prime minister met with the Vatican nuncio to discuss preparations for the scheduled visit of Pope Francis.

View of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine boxes at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, Jan. 2, 2021.

Vaccine woes add to issues in Global South

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VATICAN CITY -- When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Pope Francis warned it could make inequalities existing around the world even worse.

Demonstrators hold "Stop Hate Crimes" signs.

Scottish Christian leaders say hate crime bill limits freedom to disagree

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GLASGOW, Scotland -- The Scottish government should withdraw parts of a hate crime bill because of the risk it will lead to the prosecution of people solely for disagreeing with gender ideology and same-sex marriage, said Catholic and Protestant leaders.

People attend Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh, Iraq, June 7, 2019. Pope Francis plans to visit Iraq March 5-8.

Iraqis eagerly await Pope's visit in face of pandemic and security challenges

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AMMAN, Jordan -- Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and security concerns, Pope Francis hopes to visit Iraq, an opportunity that eluded his predecessors.

The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington at dawn Jan. 10, 2021.

Dioceses cry foul over funding report

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U.S. dioceses are crying foul over an investigative report on coronavirus relief funding they say grossly mischaracterized the Catholic Church’s finances and unrestricted cash flows, leaving the impression the Church used the 2020 CARES Act to hoard cash.

Bishop John B. Brungardt of Dodge City, Kan., returns to his seat after receiving Communion during a Mass with U.S. bishops from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome Jan. 14, 2020.

Kansas bishop steps aside following abuse allegation

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DODGE CITY, Kan. -- Denying any wrongdoing, Bishop John B. Brungardt of Dodge City has stepped away from his duties and pledged to cooperate with authorities investigating an allegation of abuse of a minor made against him.

The U.S. Capitol is seen at dawn in Washington Jan. 10, 2021.

U.S. Senate again fails to pass Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

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WASHINGTON -- Failure to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act "shows just how extreme the majority of Senate Democrats are," said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life.

Myanmar's military checkpoint is seen in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Feb. 1, 2021.

Cardinal appeals for no bloodshed, return to democracy in Myanmar

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YANGON, Myanmar -- Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon has appealed to the people of Myanmar -- including the army, which staged a coup Feb. 1 -- to remain calm and to work for open lines of communication so democracy can prevail.

March for Life participants make their way to the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington Jan. 29 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

March sends a ‘message of solidarity’

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WASHINGTON -- It was the coldest national March for Life in some years, it was the smallest, and it also may be remembered as the bravest.

A road safety officer distributes masks during a COVID-19 awareness campaign in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Jan. 19. While vaccines are rolling out in most developed nations, poor African nations are left wanting.

Bridging the great vaccine divide

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A small Canadian startup hopes to help to bridge the COVID-19 vaccine divide between rich and poor nations.

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