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January 18, 2020

A world on edge: Middle East tensions rising

Mourners touch the casket of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani during his funeral procession in Tehran Jan. 6, three days after he was killed in a U.S. drone airstrike.

In the wake of rising tensions in the Middle East which have seen the assassination of Iran’s top general and the downing of a civilian airliner, Canada can expect an escalation of refugee applications, say representative of aid agencies familiar with the region.

Published in Canada
December 3, 2019

Mideast Catholic leaders call for peace, stability in region

Patriarchs and others attend a meeting in Cairo Nov. 25-29, 2019. The Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East called upon officials of their homelands to "ensure safety, peace and tranquility and stability for their citizens."

CAIRO -- Amid deadly protests in Iraq, a people's uprising in Lebanon and continued suffering in Syria, Catholic leaders of the Middle East called upon officials of their homelands to "ensure safety, peace and tranquility and stability for their citizens."

Published in International
September 21, 2019

Carl Hetu: Despair not an option in the Middle East

Pope Francis greets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople outside the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy, on July 7, 2018. The Pope met leaders of Christian churches in the Middle East for an ecumenical day of prayer for peace in the region.

On July 7, 2018, in Bari, Italy, at an important ecumenical gathering of all Christian leaders from the Middle East, Pope Francis made a jarring reference to a Middle East without Christians. 

Published in Guest Columns
September 13, 2019

Christianity's future in Middle East has reached defining moment

Sam Brownback, ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, gives a keynote address in Washington Sept. 10, 2019, at the sixth annual Solidarity Dinner hosted by In Defense of Christians. He urged more prayer and action to continue supporting persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

WASHINGTON -- In a room full of religious leaders, politicians and other supporters of protecting Christians threatened in the Middle East, Sam Brownback, ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, urged more prayer and action to continue supporting persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

Published in International
May 27, 2019

Catholic bishops lament setbacks for Holy Land peace, but call for a better path

Arch in Golgotha chapel, Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM (CNA) -- Peace, mutual equality, and respect must be the foundation of progress in Israeli-Palestinian relations, despite continued setbacks, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land said this week.

Published in International
April 18, 2019

CNEWA focusing on Middle East crisis

Melkite Archbishop Issam Darwich of Zahle, Lebanon, distributes Communion to Syrian refugee families at the Melkite Catholic archeparchy in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in this 2017 file photo.

The Christian crisis in the Middle East will continue to absorb much of the time and money raised by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in Canada, CNEWA-Canada executive director Carl Hetu told The Catholic Register.

Published in Canada
March 21, 2019

Editorial: Safety is a priority

A woman mourns during a Nov. 3 funeral Mass at Prince Tadros Orthodox Church in Minya, Egypt, for a group of Christian pilgrims killed by gunmen as they headed to a monastery Nov. 2.

Separate terrorist attacks in the past five months have killed 80 people as they worshipped in New Zealand mosques, an American synagogue and a Philippines cathedral. These are just three among hundreds of attacks on worshippers over the past decade. 

Published in Editorial
February 6, 2019

Respect, dialogue key for peace between Christians, Muslims, Pope says

Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt's al-Azhar mosque and university, sign documents during an interreligious meeting at the Founder's Memorial in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 4, 2019.
VATICAN – Pope Francis said his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, while brief, was a new page in relations between Christians and Muslims at a time when conflict and violence threaten the goal of lasting peace.
Published in International
February 5, 2019

‘More must be done’ for abused women religious, Pope says

Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to Rome Feb. 5, 2019. Also pictured are Msgr. Mauricio Rueda, papal trip planner, and Alessandro Gisotti, interim Vatican spokesman.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT – The clerical sex abuse of women religious is a problem in the Church and more must be done about it, said Pope Francis.

Published in International
February 5, 2019

Live your Christian identity by loving others, Pope tells Catholics on Arabian Peninsula

People wait for Pope Francis' arrival to celebrate Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 5, 2019.

ABU DHABI, United Arab – Becoming the first Pope to ever celebrate Mass in the predominantly Muslim nation of United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis urged a crowd of more than 100,000 to be meek, peaceful and express their Christian identity by loving others.

Published in International
January 24, 2019

Mideast patriarch: There is great need to unite efforts against extremism, terrorism

Members of the executive committee of the Middle East Council of Churches pose for a group photo during their Jan. 22-23 meeting in Atchaneh, Lebanon.
BEIRUT – At a gathering of Middle East leaders coinciding with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Syriac Orthodox patriarch emphasized the need to unify efforts against extremism and terrorism.
Published in International
January 16, 2019

Bishops see 'incomprehensible complexity' of Holy Land conflict during visit

Bishops from North America, Europe and South Africa visit the UNRWA camp and school in Jenin, West Bank. The visit was part of the annual Holy Land Coordination.
JERUSALEM – Visiting with Christian communities in northern Israel and the northern Palestinian Territories has helped bishops participating in the annual Holy Land Coordination see "the great need" to promote an understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, said Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, Ireland.
Published in International
January 8, 2019

If Turkey enters Syria, religious freedom at risk, Christians say

Turkish military vehicles are seen in late December 2018 in the countryside of Manbij, Syria.
AMMAN, Jordan – Growing numbers of Christians in North America and Europe are joining Christians in Syria's northeast in expressing concern for the future of religious minorities and Kurds in that region should the U.S. give Turkey the "green light" to take over the fight against Islamic State.
Published in International
January 8, 2019

Peter Stockland: Millennial shatters all the stereotypes

Amanda Achtman writes about her experiences and reflections on faith, life at amandaachtman.ca.

If stereotypes are made to be deflated, Amanda Achtman is a young woman who carries a suitcase full of needles and hat pins.

Published in Register Columnists
December 17, 2018

Iraqi priest rebuilds church in war-torn Mosul, hopes returning Christians will follow

Girls navigate a muddy street Dec. 5 as they make their way to school amid the rubble of the Old City of Mosul, Iraq. when Islamic State controlled the city,most children did not attend school.
MOSUL, Iraq (CNS) -- Christians are cautiously returning to Mosul, the once-bustling Iraqi city that for three years was the capital of the caliphate established by the Islamic State group.
Published in International
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