International News

News from outside of Canada.

U.S. bishops view Supreme Court's rulings as 'tragic day for marriage'

June 26, 2013

WASHINGTON - U.S. Catholic bishops said the U.S. Supreme Court's June 26 rulings on same-sex marriage were a "tragic day for marriage and our nation."

Environment advocates consider Obama climate plan a good step forward

June 26, 2013

WASHINGTON - Catholics working for environmental justice welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to address climate change, saying it is an ambitious proposal that deserves watching to ensure that it is carried out.

Syrian priest killed during rebel attack on Franciscan convent

June 25, 2013

VATICAN CITY - A 49-year-old Syrian priest and hermit was killed June 23, apparently when a group of rebels attacked the Franciscan Convent of St. Anthony in Ghassanieh, a village in the north near the Turkish border.

Historian: Research could 'downsize' potential saint's wartime heroism

June 24, 2013

VATICAN CITY - New research on an Italian candidate for sainthood may "downsize" his importance in saving Jews from the Nazis, but cannot "transform him from a savior of the Jews into a persecutor," said an Italian Jewish historian writing in the Vatican newspaper.

Brazilian bishops support peaceful protests as World Youth Day nears

June 24, 2013

SAO PAULO - Leaders of the Brazilian bishops' conference announced their support for the massive demonstrations sweeping across South America's largest nation, but declined to say how they might affect World Youth Day activities and the visit of Pope Francis in July.

Canadian-owned mine must be closed, says archbishop

June 20, 2013

The Archbishop of San Salvador is calling for international support in shutting down a Canadian-owned gold mine just across the border in Guatemala.

Pope, JRS call attention to the face of Christ in faces of refugees

June 19, 2013

ROME - The photos of refugees projected on the facade of Rome's Gesu Church are reminders of what Pope Francis would call the suffering body of Christ today, said the head of Jesuit Refugee Service.

Bishop chides Obama for religious caricature

June 18, 2013

DUBLIN - A bishop in Northern Ireland accused President Barack Obama of a "hackneyed" analysis of the political situation in the region.

Pontifical Canadian College marks 125 years

June 16, 2013

ROME - The Canadian Catholic community in Rome is marking 125 years of maintaining an official presence in the Eternal City.

Jewish scholar predicts dark times for Palestinian Christians

June 16, 2013

Updated 06/18/13: A previous version of this article contained an error. Justus Weiner does not practise law with the U.S. firm White and Case. It’s not hard to find Christians willing to predict a dire future for Christians in the Middle East. Jewish legal scholar Justus Weiner arrived in Canada to echo that bleak forecast for Palestinian Christians from an Israeli perspective in front of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights in Ottawa June 4.