International News

News from outside of Canada.

Pennsylvania priest builds ministry one Lego at a time

November 1, 2015

MOSCOW, Pa. - Fr. Bob Simon fell in love with two things at the age of five — the Catholic Church and building with Lego.

Arab-Jewish preschool an island of sanity amid violence, parents say

November 1, 2015

JAFFA, Israel - Amid ongoing violence between Palestinians and Israelis, a school in this city seems more determined than ever to teach Arab and Jewish children about coexistence.

Church concerned by potential impact of 278-km canal across Nicaragua

October 31, 2015

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Catholic Church representatives in Nicaragua are concerned about the potential social and environmental impact of building a 278-km-long canal through the country to link the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

European Catholic bishops call for regional action ahead of Paris climate talks

October 30, 2015

PARIS - Climate change and the refugee crisis are the two biggest challenges facing Europe that need a unified response recognizing the “ecological debt” richer nations owe poorer ones, the president of Europe’s Roman Catholic bishops conference said.

China announces it will change its policy, allow all families 2 children

October 29, 2015

BEIJING - China's Communist Party leaders announced they would change the nation's one-child policy, which most strictly applied to Han Chinese living in urban areas of the country.

Pope calls for prayers, aid after quake hits Pakistan, Afghanistan

October 28, 2015

VATICAN CITY - As the death toll from an earthquake in Pakistan and Afghanistan continued to rise, Pope Francis called for prayers and concrete aid for survivors.

U.S. House bill holds up federal funds for Planned Parenthood for a year

October 27, 2015

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House voted to block federal funding for a year to affiliates of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and redirect the money to community health centres.

Pope urges peace in Iraq; prays Christians no longer be forced to flee

October 26, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis called on the international community to find a way to bring peace to Iraq and the Middle East and prayed that Christians there would no longer be forced to flee their homes.

Central African Republic faith leaders hope Pope helps with peace

October 25, 2015

OXFORD, England - Religious leaders in the Central African Republic have predicted the Pope's upcoming visit could reconcile opposing factions, three years after a Muslim-led rebellion plunged the country into civil war.

From oops to ka-ching: 17th-century ‘Sinners’ Bible’ headed for auction block

October 24, 2015

CANTERBURY, England - When King Charles I read it in 1631, he blew into a furious rage and ordered all the Bibles withdrawn and burned.