News/International

An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency stands guard June 16 in front of chemicals used in the production of crystal meth, or Shabu, near Manila, Philippines. Philippine church leaders expressed words of caution in the wake of recent killings of suspected criminals, after voters there elected Rodrigo Duterte, who ran for president on the promise to rid the country of crime during his first six months in office.

Philippine bishops issue letter on police killing of suspected criminals

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MANILA, Philippines – In light of a spike in killings of suspected criminals, Philippine bishops appealed to law enforcement officials to use "reason and humanity."

Religious people in Rio de Janeiro are urging tourists to report instances of exploitation and trafficking when the visit they city during the Olympics.

Tourists must blow whistle on trafficking during Olympics, religious say

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VATICAN CITY – Religious priests, brothers and sisters in Brazil are urging everyone attending the Olympic Games to report instances of exploitation of vulnerable people and to turn in suspected traffickers.

Refugees who fled the famine in Somalia wait in a reception area in 2011 at a camp in Dadaab, Kenya. Bishop Joseph Alessandro of the Garissa Diocese and the Jesuit Refugee Service are concerned about closing down the refugee camp with proper care.

Closure of Kenyan refugee camp worries religious leaders

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NAIROBI, Kenya – Religious leaders and humanitarian activists are urging the government to treat the mostly Muslim Somali migrants who are facing expulsion from the Dadaab refugee camp with dignity.

Maronite Catholic bishops pose for a photo during their June 13-17 annual synod at Bkerke, the patriarchal seat north of Beirut, Lebanon. The synod, preceded by a spiritual retreat, was presided by Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronites, holding pastoral staff.

Maronite bishops call for maintaining Christian presence in Middle East

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BEIRUT – Maronite Catholic bishops from around the world warned against plans to partition the Middle East and urged Christians to stand firm and to preserve co-existence with Muslims.

A volunteer from a humanitarian organization hugs refugee children June 13 during a police operation at a makeshift camp in Polykastro, Greece.

Renew efforts to build peace, help refugees, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY – Assist and accompany refugees while working to build peace in the world, Pope Francis urged on the eve of World Refugee Day.

Men in orange jumpsuits purported to be Egyptian Christians held captive by the Islamic State militants kneel in front of armed men along a beach said to be near Tripoli, Libya, in this still image from an undated video made available on social media Feb. 15. The video is said to show the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians kidnapped in Libya.

Martyrs are witnesses of faith, not just victims of genocide, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY – Using the word "genocide" to describe the persecution of Christians in the Middle East risks downplaying the courage and witness of those who boldly profess faith in Jesus Christ even in the face of death, Pope Francis said.

Patriarchs attend the opening session of Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church in Chania on the Greek island of Crete June 20. Although intended to be the first council of all the Orthodox churches in more than a millennium, the gathering opened with the absence of representatives from four Orthodox churches.

Pope offers prayers as pan-Orthodox council opens on Crete

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VATICAN CITY – As the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church opened with only 10 of the 14 Orthodox churches represented, Pope Francis offered his prayers.

A woman carrying a sign that reads, "Queer, Muslim and Proud" marches during the Gay Pride parade in Toronto on July 1, 2012.

Muslim attitudes about LGBT are complex, and far from universally anti-gay

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As one of a tiny number of openly gay imams in the world, Daayiee Abdullah has felt the sting of rebuke from fellow Muslims. No good Muslim can be gay, they say. And traditional schools of Islamic law consider homosexuality a grave sin.

The 22 year-old Luis Vielma, pictured in his Universal Harry Potter ride uniform, died along with 48 patrons at the Pulse nightclub during the June 12 massacre.

Orlando shooting victim described as compassionate young man

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ORLANDO, Fla. – As a youth minister, Michelle Murphy has established strong bonds with many of her youths, especially the ones she met during her first year working at All Souls parish in Sanford. She lovingly refers to them as her "cornerstone youths."

Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Pope Francis pose for a photo during a meeting at the Vatican May 8. The Pope is set to visit Armenia June 24-26.

Francis builds on ecumenical progress with Armenians

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TORONTO – In a country that is more than 90-per-cent Orthodox, the biggest event  in Armenia this year will be a three-day visit by Pope Francis.

A parish in Nebraska held a prayer during its June 16 mass for the family of the two-year-old by killed in an alligator attack at Walt Disney World Resport, pictured here in 2011.

Parish reaches out to Nebraska family after deadly alligator attack

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OMAHA, Neb. – Members of St. Patrick parish in Elkhorn prayed June 16 for Lane Graves, a two-year-old boy killed in an alligator attack in Florida, his father and mother, Matthew and Melissa, and sister, four-year-old Ella, during a regularly scheduled morning Mass and special rosary.

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