International News

News from outside of Canada.

Duluth bankruptcy allows diocese to assist victims, 'protect Church's mission'

December 9, 2015

DULUTH, Minn. - The Diocese of Duluth said Dec. 7 it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because efforts to reach a settlement "that would assist all abuse victims and protect the Church's mission" have been unsuccessful.

Maronite patriarch, visiting Syria, urges Christians to hold onto faith

December 9, 2015

TARTUS, Syria - Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, visiting Syria, urged Christians to hold onto their faith.

Poor farmers hope to influence Paris climate talks with their stories

December 8, 2015

PARIS - Thandiwe Chidararume, who farms sweet potato, nuts and corn in Zimbabwe, traveled nearly 5,000 miles to be in Paris for the U.N. climate change conference. She wanted to tell negotiators there of the problems she and thousands of other Zimbabwean farmers face due to adverse weather conditions.

Cardinal tells world leaders 'great deal is at stake' in climate talks

December 8, 2015

PARIS - A senior Vatican official urged a roomful of world leaders "to take action" and work in a spirit of solidarity to come up with an accord to combat global warming before it is too late.

San Bernardino victim had clashed with shooter over Israel, Holocaust

December 8, 2015

One of the victims of the massacre in San Bernardino, Calif., was a Messianic Jew who had clashed with co-worker and shooter Syed Farook over religion and politics, including the Holocaust and the right of Israel to exist as a homeland for Jews.

Activists say human rights, financing pose obstacles to climate accord

December 7, 2015

PARIS - Major hurdles stand in the way of a global accord on climate change, including over the questions of human rights and who pays the costs for poor countries to transition into using greener energy, said Catholic and other Church activists on the sidelines of the UN climate conference.

Advent's focus is waiting for Christmas but it also includes lots of feasts

December 5, 2015

WASHINGTON - Although the four weeks of Advent focus on waiting for Christmas, the Church does not just sit around and wait for the main event. It celebrates plenty of major feasts with lots of customs, traditions and even special foods during the month of December.

‘Own it!’ Terrorism is an Islamic issue, say some Muslims

December 5, 2015

WASHINGTON - While details are still unfolding as to why a California Muslim couple turned to murder, Muslims in the West must step up and admit terrorism is rooted in extremist Islam, said four Muslim panelists speaking at a conservative think tank on Thursday (Dec. 3).

Africans seek climate accord that respects their concerns

December 4, 2015

CAIRO - Africa is among the world's regions most in need of a "just and clear" global accord to combat climate change, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told the UN climate conference in Paris.

Terrorist attacks pose challenge for all 'people of faith,' says imam

December 4, 2015

WASHINGTON - Atrocities committed in the name of Islam reverberate in a historic mosque in Washington.