News/International

Colombian soldiers carry the bodies of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels killed in combat at an army base in Tame in 2014. Some in the country is hoping that the papal visit early next year will spark a self-examination by the Colombian Church regarding its role in the country's war.

Some Colombians see papal visit as chance to examine Church role in war

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BOGOTA, Colombia – When Pope Francis visits Colombia early next year, his visit may become a celebration of peace in a country with the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere.

"Defusing Hate,” a new guidebook for counteracting dangerous speech, was written by Rachel Hilary Brown and published by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

‘Defusing Hate’: Holocaust museum publishes a handbook

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WASHINGTON – Hoping to make the world safer, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has published a guidebook on countering dangerous speech, authored by a young American who helped quell intertribal conflict in Kenya during its 2013 elections.

Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, delivers his homily during the Divine Liturgy June 26 at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. Cardinal Rai arrived in the U.S. June 22 to begin a pastoral visit that concludes July 10.

Patriarch urges refugee repatriation as long-term solution in Middle East

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NEW YORK – Poor, destitute refugees now comprise half the people living in Lebanon, according to Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto speaks with citizens in late May outside the presidential residence in Mexico City. How much the same-sex marriage issue and Catholic Church intervention, along with the intervention from evangelical congregations, swayed Mexico's recent elections remains disputed.

Did same-sex marriage issue help sway regional elections in Mexico?

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MEXICO CITY – Mexicans turned out in droves to oust the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party in June 5 regional elections. Exit polls showed voters citing crime and corruption for removing the party of increasingly unpopular President Enrique Pena Nieto in seven of the 12 states holding gubernatorial elections.

An LGBT lambda equality flag flies in West Hollywood, California, United States, on June 26, 2015.

California bill would limit colleges’ religious exemptions

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A bill wending its way through the California Legislature would limit religious colleges’ ability to claim an exemption from federal Title IX regulations that bar discrimination against LGBT students and faculty.

President Rodrigo Duterte takes the oath as his daughter Veronica holds the Bible during his presidential inauguration at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines. Duterte was sworn in as the 16th president of the Philippines.

Duterte sworn in as Philippine president, vows to listen to the people

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MANILA, Philippines – Rodrigo Duterte, a controversial town mayor dubbed "Dirty Harry" and "The Punisher" for his tough stance on crime, was sworn in as the 16th president of the Philippines June 30.

Paramedics help people outside Istanbul's Ataturk Airport following a June 28 suicide attack. The bombings killed over 40 and wounded more than 230 as Turkish officials blamed the carnage at the international terminal on three suspected Islamic State group militants.

U.S. bishops speak out against attack in Turkey

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WASHINGTON – Following the June 28 terrorist attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport in Turkey, the president of the U.S. bishops' conference and Chicago's archbishop issued statements emphasizing the need to find comfort in faith and show support the suffering with prayer and generosity.

A woman holds a sign advocating for gun control while marching with Moms Demand Action at the gay pride parade in San Francisco June 26. In the first 180 days of 2016, there have been 163 mass shootings in the United States, according to data gathered by the Washington-based nonprofit Gun Violence Archive.

Action on gun violence is a respect life issue in the eyes of some

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WASHINGTON – In the first 181 days of 2016, there have been 163 mass shootings in the United States, data gathered by the Washington-based nonprofit Gun Violence Archive show.

Paramedics help people outside Istanbul's Ataturk Airport following a June 28 suicide attack. The bombings killed dozens and wounded more than 200 as Turkish officials blamed the carnage at the international terminal on three suspected Islamic State group militants.

Pope Francis prays for peace following Turkey terrorist attack

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis led pilgrims in praying for peace and for the victims of a terrorist attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in Turkey.

A Polish delicatessen is seen in the Hammersmith section of London June 27. Xenophobic incidents included the vandalism of the buildings of a Polish social and cultural association in London and the verbal abuse of foreigners on a tram in Manchester.

English bishops condemn rise in xenophobic attacks after Brexit vote

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MANCHESTER, England – Catholic bishops condemned a sharp rise in xenophobic and racist attacks following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

Lebanese army soldiers and forensic experts inspect the site where suicide bomb attacks took place June 27 in the village of Qaa. Four suicide bombers attacked the predominantly Christian village in northeast Lebanon near the border with Syria, killing at least five people in addition to themselves.

Suicide bombers hit predominantly Christian Lebanese village near border

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BEIRUT – Suicide bombers attacked a predominantly Christian village in northeast Lebanon twice in one day, and residents called on the government to support them, saying Islamic State fighters were holed up on the outskirts of town.

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