International News

News from outside of Canada.

U.N. climate conference misses mark for small farmers, says D&P

November 23, 2016

OTTAWA – The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Marrakech failed to address the needs of small farmers, said a representative from the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

Upcoming U.N. talks to abolish nuclear weapons face uncertain future

November 22, 2016

WASHINGTON – The United Nations is preparing to embark on talks to ban nuclear weapons.

New quake, tsunami spotlight Japanese bishops' anti-nuclear stance

November 22, 2016

TOKYO – A strong subsea earthquake triggered a tsunami alert along Japan's northeastern Pacific coast at dawn Nov. 22, sending residents running for high ground and unleashing a brief nuclear drama in an unwelcome reminder of the disaster in the same area five years ago.

Indiana mayor draws criticism for renaming Good Friday

November 22, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS – Critics say an Indiana mayor's decision to rename the city's Good Friday holiday in the name of inclusivity ended up marginalizing Christians.

Christianity returns to the towns of Iraq's Nineveh Plain

November 22, 2016

MOSUL, IRAQ – Two years after the sound of church bells was replaced by the sound of explosives in Bashiqa, Iraq, just north of Mosul, Christians are again celebrating Mass after forcing the Islamic State out of their homeland.

After Krakow, Mary at heart of next World Youth Day gathering

November 22, 2016

VATICAN CITY – On Tuesday the Vatican announced the themes for the next three World Youth Day encounters, which are focused on Mary and form the basis of a spiritual journey culminating in the next global encounter in Panama in 2019.

U.S. Cardinal urges stronger effort to stop physician-assisted suicide

November 21, 2016

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities has called for increased efforts and "renewed vigor" to stop legalized physician-assisted suicide after the practice was approved by voters in Colorado and the District of Columbia City Council.

Rwandan bishops apologize for role in 1994 genocide

November 21, 2016

Roman Catholic bishops in Rwanda have issued an apology for the role played by individual clergy and church members in the 1994 genocide in which nearly 1 million ethnic Tutsis and Hutus were killed.

British cardinal: some media foster 'climate of fear' against migrants

November 21, 2016

LONDON – Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said some British media were stirring up xenophobic sentiments against migrants and refugees.

Promoting reconciliation and forgiveness, Salesians remain in Syria

November 20, 2016

DAMASCUS – Fr. Alejandro León is a Salesian missionary who has lived more than 13 years in the Middle East, and in Syria since 2011 – precisely when its civil war began. He has said that being there during the war is “ a sign of mercy and the love of God,” even though it involves risking his own life and often being close to death.