International News

News from outside of Canada.

Pope Francis changes catechism to say death penalty is 'inadmissible'

August 2, 2018

VATICAN – Building on the development of Catholic Church teaching against capital punishment, Pope Francis has ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to assert "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person" and to commit the church to working toward its abolition worldwide.

Cardinal Wuerl focuses on next steps in wake of Archbishop McCarrick allegations

August 1, 2018

WASHINGTON – The Catholic Standard, archdiocesan newspaper of Washington, published a question-and-answer interview July 31 with Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl about the next steps for the archdiocese in light of the sexual abuse allegations made against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, a former cardinal and retired archbishop of Washington.

Church must address its leaders' 'moral failures of judgment', president of U.S. bishops says

August 1, 2018

WASHINGTON – Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick "will rightly face" a Vatican canonical process regarding sexual abuse allegations against him, but the U.S. Catholic Church must take steps to respond to church leaders' "moral failures of judgment," said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

It is morally wrong to withdraw food, water from patients in vegetative state, U.K. bishop says

August 1, 2018

MANCHESTER, England – Britain's highest court has ruled that doctors can withdraw food and fluid from patients who are in a vegetative state or minimally conscious without seeking permission from judges.

Two Catholic universities rescind Archbishop McCarrick's honourary degrees

August 1, 2018

WASHINGTON – The Catholic University of America announced July 30 that it was withdrawing the 2006 honorary degree awarded to then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, in light of recent sexual abuse allegations.

Thousands march in support of Nicaraguan bishops after repeated attacks

August 1, 2018

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The streets of Nicaragua were filled on July 28 by thousands of demonstrators supporting the country’s bishops and priests after repeated attacks by paramilitaries with ties to the government.

Medieval reform, doctor of the Church, can help current sex abuse crisis, historian says

August 1, 2018

VATICAN – A radical program of reform addressing the widespread problem of abusive clergy and negligent superiors in the 11th century holds some essential insights and lessons for the church today, a church historian has said.

Honduran bishops deny 'culture of homosexuality' at national seminary

July 31, 2018

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – The Honduran bishops' conference on Monday denied there exists a homosexual culture at the national seminary, in response to a recent report from the National Catholic Register about Honduran seminarians lamenting that culture.

Priests in Asia, Europe have key roles in marriage preparation

July 31, 2018

WASHINGTON – Priests continue to play diverse and integral roles in marriage preparation across Europe and Asia.

Catholics distribute aid for victims of deadly Indonesian earthquake

July 31, 2018

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Catholic groups have collected and are distributing aid for thousands of people affected by a deadly earthquake that struck Lombok, Indonesia's popular tourist island.