International News

News from outside of Canada.

West African bishops urge Catholics to defend traditional marriage, family

March 1, 2016

ACCRA, Ghana - The bishops of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa called on Catholics to defend traditional marriage and the family as they met in the Ghanaian capital.

South African archbishop: University violence is reaction to inequality

March 1, 2016

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Violence and vandalism at South African universities are reactions to inequality in the country, said Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria, spokesman for the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference.

Cardinal tells Australian abuse hearing he won't defend indefensible

February 29, 2016

SYDNEY - The Vatican's Prefect for the Secretariat of the Economy, Cardinal George Pell, told a special hearing of Australia's Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he was not trying "to defend the indefensible."

St. Louis archbishop pushes for switch to Girl Scout alternatives

February 28, 2016

ST. LOUIS - The Archdiocese of St. Louis has formed a new Catholic Committee for Girls Formation that is being charged with ministry to all girls in the archdiocese.

Ministry in Aleppo is about keeping hope alive

February 28, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Even in the midst of constant bombing, Jesuit and Salesian priests remain in war-torn Aleppo, Syria, trying to create a sense of normalcy for those unable to leave.

Italian Senate passes civil unions bill

February 26, 2016

ROME - After months of public debate and protests, the Italian Senate passed a controversial bill that grants legal recognition to non-married heterosexual and homosexual couples.

Businessman arrested in Ponzi scheme that police say priest abetted

February 26, 2016

ROME - Police in Spain have arrested a fugitive businessman accused of swindling pensioners from the U.S. and elsewhere out of millions of euros with the backing of a Catholic priest who worked at the Vatican before retiring to the Canary Islands.

Western Hemisphere bishops seek ways to boost 'encounter with Christ'

February 25, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. - Fourteen bishops from Canada, the United States and Latin America explored ways to invite the faithful into what Pope Francis has called "an encounter with Jesus Christ" during three days of prayer and discussion.

Disease, cold add to suffering of Mozambicans who fled to Malawi

February 25, 2016

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Malaria and cold nights add to the suffering of the increasing number of Mozambicans arriving at a makeshift camp in Malawi to escape violence at home, said a church worker in Malawi.

Plan to close Guantanamo leaves unanswered questions for advocates

February 24, 2016

WASHINGTON - As U.S. President Barack Obama offered a long-awaited plan to close the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, organizations advocating for the closure welcomed the news and called for an end of the policy of holding remaining detainees without charges.