International News

News from outside of Canada.

What’s God got to do with football devotion? Plenty

January 24, 2015

Did God lift Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s overtime pass into the end zone in the conference final, rewarding the prayerful Christian player with a championship victory and a trip to the Super Bowl? Millions of Americans may think so.

Church in Central African Republic readies plans for papal visit

January 23, 2015

OXFORD, England - Pope Francis plans to visit the Central African Republic late this year in an effort to end two years of intercommunal violence, the vice president of the country's bishops' conference confirmed.

Republicans abandon anti-abortion bill

January 23, 2015

Abortion opponents marking the huge annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 22 and anticipating legislative gains by a Republican-dominated Congress were thrown into disarray after GOP leaders unexpectedly withdrew an anti-abortion bill that had been seen as a done deal.

Boston cardinal: 'We shall overcome' in fight against abortion

January 22, 2015

WASHINGTON - Evoking a phrase long associated with the civil rights movement, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston told an overflow crowd in Washington that "we shall overcome" in the fight against abortion.

State of the Union speech hits on numerous social justice themes

January 22, 2015

WASHINGTON - In his Jan. 20 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama hit on numerous themes that resonated with Catholic advocates for social justice issues.

U.S. Catholic leaders say immigration reform is also ‘pro-life’

January 21, 2015

More than 100 U.S. Roman Catholic leaders are using this week’s annual march against legal abortion to press anti-abortion House members to pass immigration reform, saying they should see it as another “pro-life” issue.

Irish government says no referendum on blasphemy before election

January 21, 2015

DUBLIN - The Irish government will not hold a national referendum to remove the offense of blasphemy from the country's constitution.

Churches in Niger and other former French colonies torched over Charlie Hebdo cartoons

January 20, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are proving costly for Christians in majority-Muslim countries in Africa.

Nigerian bishop calls for Western intervention to stop Boko Haram

January 20, 2015

ROME - Underlining the failure of the Nigerian government to stop the violent rampage of Boko Haram, a Catholic bishop has called for Western military intervention.

Pope says Catholics must practise 'responsible parenthood'

January 19, 2015

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis stressed that, despite Church doctrine against contraception, Catholics fail to practise "responsible parenthood" when they have too many children. He also denounced the teaching of "gender theory" in schools, likening it to indoctrination of children by the Nazis and fascists.