International News

News from outside of Canada.

Pope Francis’ approval ratings fall in U.S.

July 22, 2015

Growing conservative disaffection with Pope Francis appears to be taking a toll on his once teflon-grade popularity in the United States, with a new Gallup poll showing the pontiff’s favourability rating among all Americans dropping to 59 per cent from a 76-per-cent peak early last year.

Church charities augment tattered school system in quake-wracked Nepal

July 22, 2015

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Like thousands of Nepalese homeowners, Sobha Laksmi Maharjan lost her residence in the devastating earthquake that rocked Nepal April 25. But she remains busy and cheerful at work despite the hardship.

African clergy to protest Obama’s gay-rights ‘agenda’ on trip

July 22, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Anti-gay activists, including conservative clerics, traditional elders and politicians, are threatening to resist any push by U.S. President Barack Obama for gay rights during his Kenya visit this week, with tactics that range from throwing rotten eggs to marching naked and boycotting his speeches.

World's mayors head to Vatican, vow to tackle climate change, poverty

July 21, 2015

VATICAN CITY - After decades of world leaders trying to set global goals to address climate change and extreme poverty, city mayors gathered at the Vatican to pledge they will take real action and lead the fight on their streets.

Fr. Robert Barron, one of three auxiliary bishops named for Los Angeles

July 21, 2015

WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has named three auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles including Fr. Robert Barron, creator of the Catholicism television series.

Priest finds frustrations build among Christians in Iraq camp

July 21, 2015

MANCHESTER, England - When the Islamic State overran the Iraqi town of Qaraqosh last August, one of the priests there jumped into his car and joined the exodus of Christians on the road east in the hope of reaching the safety of Kurdish-controlled territory.

Philippine archbishop: Protecting environment benefits poorest nations

July 20, 2015

MANILA, Philippines - The president of the Philippine bishops' conference called climate change a matter of social justice and said that caring for Earth should not just be a goal to benefit this generation but also future generations.

German cardinal says arson attacks on immigrant hostels 'sow hatred'

July 20, 2015

MUNICH - A German Catholic Church leader condemned an arson attack that destroyed a reception centre for asylum seekers.

California governor says Laudato Si' was necessary wake-up call

July 20, 2015

ROME - Elections, like profit reports, have regular short-term rhythms, which is why Pope Francis' encyclical letter on the environment was so "appropriate and absolutely essential" for waking people up to the dangers of climate change, said California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Cardinal Pell takes a swing at Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical

July 20, 2015

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican’s financial chief, Cardinal George Pell, has taken the unusual step of criticizing Pope Francis’ groundbreaking environmental encyclical, arguing the Catholic Church has “no particular expertise in science.”