International News

News from outside of Canada.

In Pakistan, mass arrests halt rally backing blasphemy law

January 6, 2017

LAHORE, Pakistan – Supporters of Pakistan’s strict blasphemy law attempted to march in Lahore on Wednesday, but were thwarted when police made more than 150 arrests.

Bishop says Turkish Catholics fearful after attacks, but can count on government

January 5, 2017

OXFORD, England – A church leader in Turkey said Catholics are fearful about attending church after recent terrorist attacks, but insisted local Christians can count on government protection.

Norway and its national church part ways

January 5, 2017

Norway and its church are getting a divorce — or maybe they’re just separating.

Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo restored after December bombing

January 5, 2017

CAIRO, Egypt – The Egyptian army corps of engineers has completed the restoration of Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, where a terrorist attack last month left 27 dead.

Italian priest accused of organizing orgies, prostituting women

January 5, 2017

ROME, Italy – An Italian priest from northern Italy has been accused of pimping out some 15 women, as well as organizing and filming orgies in his rectory.

McDonald's near Vatican opens to mixed reactions

January 4, 2017

ROME, Italy – Last week's opening of a McDonald's in a Vatican-owned property just around the corner from St. Peter's Square has been both welcomed and decried by Rome's locals.

Italian priest replaces Nativity scene after outcry over ‘burqa’

January 4, 2017

ROME – After political outcry and personal threats, an Italian priest has replaced a Christmas Nativity scene that critics said depicted Mary, the mother of Jesus, with a Muslim body covering.

Salesians in India hold prayer vigil for release of Fr. Tom

January 4, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Salesians in the Bangalore province of India held a prayer vigil Jan. 4 for the release of Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen March 4, 2016.

What Christians are finding as they return to the Nineveh Plain

January 3, 2017

MOSUL, Iraq – As villages on Iraq’s Nineveh Plain are liberated from Islamic State forces, the Christians who lived there have returned, only to find destruction and betrayal.

Catholics in U.S. Congress: one-third of House, one-quarter of Senate

January 3, 2017

WASHINGTON – The religious makeup of the 115th Congress is significantly Christian – 91 per cent – with Catholics comprising one-third of the House of Representatives and about a quarter of the Senate.