European Politics

VATICAN CITY -- "Every life is valuable, always," Pope Francis tweeted after offering prayers for Vincent Lambert, a 42-year-old French man who died July 11, nine days after doctors stopped providing him with nutrition and hydration.

I sat down one night and watched the Jonas Brothers documentary entitled Chasing Happiness. I loved every second. My 15-year-old self was thrilled and I was honestly so impressed by how these three young men completely opened up in a way that was new to their audience (i.e. going from Disney Channel to truth-telling drinking games).

It’s a frustrating paradox. The Canadian government’s carbon tax is a bold, brave move that models to the rest of the world how to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, cabinet has approved the Trans Mountain pipeline, a project that flies in the face of the carbon tax and other measures to combat climate change.

After two years of hammering away at politicians on peace, security and refugees, Canada’s Catholic development agency is claiming a few small victories.

WASHINGTON -- The directors of "Unplanned," the life-affirming, true story of a Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life activist, described a White House summit on social media as a needed opportunity for conservatives to discuss how Facebook, Twitter and Google and other outlets are shutting out their voices.

VATICAN CITY -- Opening the Vatican tombs of a princess and a duchess July 11 in a search for the remains of a young Italian woman missing for more than 30 years, the Vatican found no human remains at all.

MANCHESTER, England -- A top British official said the government would commit itself to a robust defense of persecuted Christians following a new report into their plight.

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa archdiocese is officially amalgamating with the Alexandria-Cornwall diocese to form the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. -- In a campaign-style address, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed to be Canada’s defender of religious freedom July 6 at an annual religious festival.

LOS ANGELES -- In a last-minute twist, a California bill that would have required priests to break the sacramental seal of confession was shelved by its sponsor amid a remarkable grassroots campaign mounted by the state's Catholics, members of other faith groups, and religious liberty advocates from across the country.