International News

News from outside of Canada.

Catholic presence at Battle of Gettysburg still evident 150 years later

July 4, 2013

PHILADELPHIA - They were Poles, Austrians, Germans, Czechs, Italians, Irish — especially Irish — and they had one thing in common. They were Catholics, many of them new immigrants but loyal Americans.

Polish, Ukrainian church leaders mark anniversary of WWII massacres

July 3, 2013

WARSAW, Poland - Catholic leaders in Poland and Ukraine pledged mutual forgiveness for the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians during World War II.

Catholic parish mourns loss of one of its own in Arizona fire

July 3, 2013

PHOENIX - In Tualatin, Ore., members of Resurrection Parish and Our Lady of the Lake School in Lake Oswego were remembering John Percin Jr., one of 19 firefighters who perished June 30 in an Arizona wildfire.

U.S. bishops, religious leaders call for religious liberty protections

July 3, 2013

WASHINGTON - A diverse group of religious leaders, including Catholics, Protestants, evangelicals and a representative from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, issued an open letter July 2 urging the U.S. government to "expand conscience protections" in its Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate.

Pope Francis' first encyclical to be published July 5

July 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' first encyclical, which he has said is largely the work of retired Pope Benedict XVI, will be published July 5.

Director, deputy director of Vatican bank resign

July 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - The director and the deputy director of the Vatican bank, which is being investigated by a special papal commission, resigned July 1.

Syrian refugees need stronger international support

June 30, 2013

WASHINGTON - Syrian refugees fleeing their homeland’s civil war deserve support from the international community in the form of food, water, shelter and education, said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, of Tucson, Ariz., chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services.

The Church’s response to the crisis in Syria

June 30, 2013

The last three years of sponsoring Iraqi refugees has prepared Catholic parishes and religious communities to deal with the next wave coming from the civil war in Syria, said Office for Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto executive director Martin Mark.

The World Bank’s plan to help end ‘absolute poverty’

June 29, 2013

The World Bank is promising the poor will not always be with us.

Church groups aid India flood relief

June 27, 2013

THRISSUR, INDIA - Church charity groups in India joined security personnel in rescue and relief work for hundreds of thousands of people affected by flash floods and massive landslides in northeastern India’s Uttarakhand state.