International News

News from outside of Canada.

Coptic bishop: No civil war in Egypt; foreign powers keep out

August 17, 2013

CAIRO - A Coptic Catholic bishop who served as a member of the assembly that drafted Egypt's 2012 constitution said his country will not have a civil war, and foreign powers — including the United Nations — should not interfere.

Canadian Copts keeping close eye on Egyptian homeland

August 16, 2013

TORONTO - Canada’s Coptic Christians are tethered to their phones and computers, watching their old parishes, neighbourhoods and communities in Egypt burn. Revenge attacks by supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi have targeted churches and Christian-owned businesses.

Catholic spokesman defends Egyptian army crackdown against protesters

August 15, 2013

OXFORD, England - A spokesman for Egypt's Catholic Church defended a police and army crackdown against Egyptians protesting the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi.

Pope asks Mary, queen of peace, to bring calm to Egypt

August 15, 2013

VATICAN CITY - As the official death toll rose from clashes Aug. 14 in Egypt and as the damage done to Christian churches was being assessed, Pope Francis invoked Mary, queen of peace, to bring calm to the country.

U.S. State Department office to engage faith groups

August 14, 2013

WASHINGTON - The creation of the Office for Engagement with Faith-Based Communities at the U.S. State Department, announced Aug. 7, follows long- standing criticism that U.S. diplomacy has been too separated from the realities of the importance of religion.

Jerusalem, shared 'security blanket,' key to Israeli-Palestinian peace

August 14, 2013

JERUSALEM - Coveted as a spiritual and political capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, the status of the city of Jerusalem has stood out as one of the pivotal topics in their ongoing peace negotiations.

Sri Lanka cardinal condemns army shooting of civilians in church

August 8, 2013

NEW DELHI - Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, Sri Lanka, expressed "shock and distress" in accusing the military of storming a Catholic church and firing on residents who had sought refuge there.

U.S. appeals court dismisses sexual abuse lawsuit against Vatican

August 7, 2013

VATICAN CITY - At the request of a man allegedly abused by a priest in 1965, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed his case claiming the Vatican was the priest's employer and could be liable for damages.

Italian official says 'it seems' Italian Jesuit was kidnapped in Syria

August 6, 2013

VATICAN CITY - After more than a week with no word from Jesuit Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, an Italian priest who worked for decades in Syria, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said, "it seems he has been kidnapped by an Islamist group" that is a "local version of al-Qaida," the terrorist group.

Vatican bank launches website to boost transparency, media relations

July 31, 2013

VATICAN CITY - In an effort to shake its image as a secretive, scandal-ridden institute and improve its relationship with the media, the Vatican bank has launched its own website.