International News

News from outside of Canada.

Canadian churches seek more than military response in Iraq, Syria

April 9, 2015

OTTAWA - The Canadian Council of Churches in an open letter to Prime Minister Harper has urging a broader response to the crisis in Iraq and Syria than military intervention.

Protected zone for minorities sought in Iraq, Syria

April 8, 2015

AMMAN, Jordan - A call for an area to protect Christians and other religious minorities in Syria and Iraq is gathering pace even as April marks the centenary of the 1915 genocide of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Christians.

Philippine cardinal gathers advocates for Muslim autonomous region

April 7, 2015

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine cardinal has pooled a team of peace advocates to help push legislation that would see the creation of an autonomous region in the Muslim-majority section of Mindanao Island.

Bishops object to death penalty as punishment in Boston bomber case

April 7, 2015

BOSTON - As the trial of Boston Marathon bombing defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev went to the jury April 6, the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts released a statement reiterating the church's teaching on the death penalty.

A national campaign for ‘Islam a la Francaise’ takes root amid growing radicalization

April 7, 2015

YON, France - Sunlight slants across a classroom at the Catholic University of Lyon, where the Bible dominates an evening lecture.

Cardinal calls Kenyans to prayer in wake of militants' college attack

April 7, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - The president of the Kenyan bishops' conference called on Easter worshippers to commit themselves to praying for peace and security in their homeland after militants attacked a college campus days earlier.

Kenya religious leaders urge unity in face of Garissa massacre

April 4, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - As Good Friday services began here, Christian and Muslim leaders preached unity a day after a horrific terrorist attack at Garissa University College left 147 students dead, most of them Christians.

Preparing for Easter a time of joy for Eastern Catholics

April 3, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Joy is not a word people usually associate with strict fasting and penance — unless they are Eastern-rite Catholics.

Indiana lawmakers agree to amend 'religious freedom' law

April 2, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Republican legislative leaders, under growing pressure from inside and outside the state, said April 2 that lawmakers had reached agreement to amend Indiana’s controversial “religious freedom” law to ensure it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian customers of Indiana businesses.

At least 147 killed, hundreds rescued in Kenyan university attack that targeted Christians

April 2, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somalia's al-Shabab militants shot and killed more than 147 people, wounded dozens of others and held hundreds hostage April 2 at Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya.