News/International

Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta attends a news conference to discuss the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 8.

Abuse survivors need justice, not 'hollow mercy', archbishop says

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VATICAN – Responding to clerical sexual abuse demands truth and justice, not just admitting a sin was committed, said Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, leaves a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct 5. In an Oct. 7 open letter, Cardinal Ouellet said that the Congregation for Bishops had placed restrictions on former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick but Pope Benedict XVI had not applied formal sanctions.

'Repent of your revolt': Cardinal Ouellet responds to Archbishop Vigano on McCarrick case

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VATICAN – Former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington had been told by Vatican officials to withdraw from public life because of rumors about his sexual misconduct, said Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a Catholic, is sworn in as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts, also a Catholic, as Kavanaugh's wife, Ashley holds the family Bible and his daughters, Liza and Margaret, look on Oct. 6.

Amid shouts of protesters in gallery, U.S. Senate votes 48-50 to confirm Kavanaugh to Supreme Court

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WASHINGTON  – Late Oct. 6, despite the interruptions of screaming protesters who had to be escorted from the gallery that oversees the Senate chamber, U.S. senators voted 50-48 to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the newest justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wait for the start of a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 4.

Church leaders must face truth of sex abuse, Cardinal DiNardo says

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ROME – The president of the U.S. bishops' conference welcomed Pope Francis' pledge to fight attempts to cover up cases of sexual abuse and to stop offering special treatment to bishops who have committed or covered up abuse.
Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron leaves a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 5.

Bishop Barron tells Synod Fathers young people need to be heard, not arrogantly lectured

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VATICAN -- The Catholic Church needs to communicate the beauty and intelligence of faith to young men and women without resorting to condescending and aggressive methods, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron of Los Angeles told members of the Synod of Bishops.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia arrives for the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct 3.

Archbishop Chaput urges synod to be careful with language, especially on sexuality

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VATICAN  – Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia told members of the Synod of Bishops their task was to help young people understand Catholic teaching on sexuality and to avoid using terms like "LGBTQ" that make it seem as if the church categorizes people that way.
Young people walk away after presenting offertory gifts to Pope Francis during the opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct 3. Pictured in red, Emilie Callan is one of Canada's youth observers to the synod.

At opening Mass, Pope Francis welcomes first ever bishops from communist China to attend synod

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VATICAN – Setting the stage for a monthlong gathering of bishops, Pope Francis urged synod fathers not to be crushed by "prophets of doom," but to be the signs of hope and joy for which today's young people yearn.
Pope Francis celebrates the opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct 3.

Pope's favourability numbers down, and worse for handling of abuse, Pew Research polls show

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WASHINGTON – With Pope Francis midway into the sixth year of his pontificate, the percentage of U.S. Catholics who view him favourably, while still strong, is noticeably down.
A woman holds her son as they rest Oct. 3 outside their damaged home after an earthquake hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island.

Catholic agencies aid victims of Indonesia earthquake, tsunami

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JAKARTA, Indonesia – Catholic aid agencies were among those working to assess the needs and get relief to the island of Sulawesi after an earthquake and tsunami left more than 1,400 people dead.

Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, addresses Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, and other members of the subcommittee Sept. 27. HU's comments concerned the Chinese government's persecution of Christians and adherents of other faiths.

Hearing examines China's new deal with Vatican, policy on religion

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WASHINGTON – Debate continues about whether the Vatican's provisional agreement with China will improve relations between the Chinese state and members of religious groups, which have had a long history of conflict.
New Cardinal Sergio da Rocha of Brasilia, Brazil, is seen after a consistory at which he was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Nov. 19.

Synod helps to renew the Church to help young Catholics, cardinal says

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VATICAN – To strengthen and support young people in the faith, members of the Synod of Bishops will need to listen to their real-life stories, interpret what they hear in the light of the Gospel and make decisions that will lead to an authentic renewal of the Catholic Church, said Brazilian Cardinal Sergio da Rocha.
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