International News

News from outside of Canada.

After acquittal, attention now on how to heal societal wounds of racism

July 19, 2013

WASHINGTON - Despite weeks of testimony and evidence and 17 months of national debate about what factors led to the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., at the end of the trial July 13, it became apparent that broader issues would not go away with the verdict of acquittal.

British archbishops call new same-sex marriage law 'watershed'

July 18, 2013

MANCHESTER, England - Britain's two leading archbishops said the new same-sex marriage law represented "a watershed in English law and heralds a profound social change."

Texas stiffens abortion restrictions; pro-lifers rally to support bill

July 16, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas- The drama in Texas over abortion that drew national and international attention came to an end for the moment after the state House of Representatives then the state Senate voted to adopt tougher abortion regulations.

Vatican court freezes bank accounts of arrested monsignor

July 15, 2013

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's criminal court has frozen the Vatican bank accounts of a monsignor arrested in Italy and has opened its own criminal investigation into how he used the accounts.

United Nations demands Vatican action on sex abuse

July 15, 2013

GENEVA - A United Nations' committee concerned with children's rights is requesting that the Vatican provide complete details about every accusation it has ever received of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.

Society of the Sacred Heart unifies Canadian, U.S. provinces

July 12, 2013

ST. LOUIS - The Society of the Sacred Heart, an international congregation of women religious, has unified its provinces in Canada and the United States to form the Province of the United States-Canada. Its headquarters will be based in St. Louis. The change became effective July 8.

Vatican updates laws; Pope expands jurisdiction of Vatican court

July 11, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved a major updating of the criminal laws of Vatican City State, including in areas dealing with child abuse and terrorism financing, and has ruled that any Vatican employee can be tried by the Vatican court for violating those laws.

In Timbuktu, majority Muslims, minority Christians reject extremists

July 9, 2013

TIMBUKTU, Mali - In this ancient city that has become synonymous with the ends of the earth, the recent terrorism of Islamist extremists belies long years of peaceful Muslim-Christian coexistence.

Pope calls for repentance over treatment of migrants

July 8, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Before saying a word publicly, Pope Francis made the sign of the cross and tossed a wreath of white and yellow flowers into the Mediterranean Sea in memory of the estimated 20,000 African immigrants who have died in the past 25 years trying to reach a new life in Europe.

Patchwork of murky laws emerges as more U.S. states OK use of marijuana

July 8, 2013

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Somewhere among the skateboarders, weightlifters, street artisans and moms pushing strollers at California's Venice Beach may be a high concentration of seriously ill Californians seeking alternative pain relief.