International News

News from outside of Canada.

Vatican decision to recognize Palestine upsets Israeli government, Jewish advocacy groups

May 13, 2015

JERUSALEM - The Vatican’s decision to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state has angered Israeli officials.

Once Pope Francis knows U.S. capitalism he will love it, says Catholic theologian-economist

May 13, 2015

NEW YORK - Fr. Martin Schlag is a trained economist as well as a Catholic moral theologian, and when he first read some of Pope Francis’ powerful critiques of the current free market system he had the same thought a lot of Americans did: “Just horrible.”

When second quake hit, fear filled those waiting for relief materials

May 12, 2015

NAMJUNG, Nepal - As the magnitude-7.3 quake hit, screaming and shouting filled the mountain village of Namjung, where approximately 600 people had gathered to collect relief material being distributed by Catholic Relief Services.

Church groups welcome German bishops' changes to employment rules

May 12, 2015

OXFORD, England - Catholic organizations in Germany welcomed changes to their church's employment rules, so staffers will no longer face being fired for remarrying without an annulment or for forming gay unions.

Report details damage to Nigerian diocese where Boko Haram operates

May 12, 2015

MANCHESTER, England - A new report has revealed the scale of suffering of Nigerian Catholics at the hands of Boko Haram militants, with 5,000 Catholics killed in one diocese alone.

Sr. Prejean tells Boston jury of Tsarnaev's regret for victims

May 12, 2015

BOSTON - Sr. Helen Prejean, the death penalty abolition advocate, told a jury May 11 that convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev expressed remorse for his victims in discussions with her.

Church must promote dialogue, education, families in Africa, Pope says

May 11, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Promoting dialogue, education and strong families, the Catholic Church in Africa fulfills its mission to proclaim God's love and to work for the common good, Pope Francis said in separate meetings with the bishops of Mozambique and of Togo.

Castro says Pope is so impressive he might start praying again

May 11, 2015

VATICAN CITY - After spending close to an hour with Pope Francis, Cuban President Raul Castro told reporters he is so impressed by what the Pope does and says that he might start praying and could even return to the church.

Relief items in short supply in landlocked Nepal

May 11, 2015

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Anam Tamang was excited: A truck of earthquake relief supplies had finally arrived at Caritas Nepal headquarters in Kathmandu.

Liberation theology’s founder basks in a belated rehabilitation under Pope Francis

May 10, 2015

NEW YORK - It used to be that just saying the words “liberation theology” around Catholics was enough to start a schism-level fight, or at least raise a red flag in Rome.