International News

News from outside of Canada.

Christian leaders: Israeli occupation of Palestine is cause of conflict

June 23, 2020

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli "military occupation of Palestine" is the "root cause" of the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said three retired Christian leaders.

Benedict XVI returns to Vatican from visit to his brother in Germany

June 22, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- Retired Pope Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican June 22, five days after flying to Germany to spend time with his ailing, 96-year-old brother.

Lockdown has increased risk of abuse of minors, says expert

June 19, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- The increased screen time and isolation due to quarantine measures or restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have put vulnerable minors at greater risk of grooming and abuse online, a Jesuit safeguarding expert said.

Turkish bishops won't contest plan to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque

June 18, 2020

OXFORD, England -- Catholic bishops in Turkey pledged not to contest plans to turn Istanbul's ancient Hagia Sophia cathedral that now serves as a museum into a Muslim place of worship.

Africans still seething after Floyd killing

June 17, 2020

ACCRA, Ghana -- Weeks after the death of George Floyd, the killing of the unarmed African American is still being condemned by African governments and organizations, with some describing it as an unjust murder.

USCCB president 'deeply concerned' about court's LGBT ruling

June 16, 2020

WASHINGTON -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said he is "deeply concerned" that by ruling federal law protects LGBT workers from discrimination, the U.S. Supreme Court "has effectively redefined the legal meaning of 'sex' in our nation's civil rights law."

Church leaders urge COVID-19 vaccine development to be ethical

June 15, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- Spanish Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera of Valencia made headlines when he described as a "work of the devil" attempts to find a COVID-19 vaccine using cell lines created from fetuses aborted voluntarily decades ago.

Sisters escape violence

June 12, 2020

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The four Daughters of St. Paul who live and work on Charleston’s King Street closed up their books and media store like normal May 30.

After ‘taking a knee,’ bishop gets a call from Pope

June 11, 2020

WASHINGTON -- It’s called “taking a knee,” and many professional athletes around the country have made the gesture publicly to protest police brutality in the wake of the May 25 killing of George Floyd.

Americans urged to heal race wounds

June 10, 2020

WASHINGTON -- As protests continued around the world at the killing by police of George Floyd, United States bishops called for Americans to celebrate the country’s diversity and pray for the end of the deep sin of racism.