News/International
Pope Francis, urging young Russians to be proud of their heritage, stirs controversy
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church said Ukrainians were shocked when Pope Francis told Russian Catholic youths to be proud of their heritage and cited two historic Russian leaders that, the archbishop said, are "the worst example of imperialism and extreme Russian nationalism."
Society of Jesus banned in Nicaragua
By David Agren, OSV NewsThe Nicaraguan regime has extinguished the Jesuits' legal status and ordered the expropriation of its assets, effectively making it illegal for the Society of Jesus to operate in the Central American country.
Cardinal Burke sees 'grave harm' coming from synod process
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceThe synod process underway around the world and at the Vatican is inflicting "evident and grave harm" on the Catholic Church, retired U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke wrote in a letter published as the foreword to a book.
'We are willing to die for the name of Jesus,' persecuted Christians say as world marks day of awareness for religion-based violence
By OSV NewsOn the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief, observed on the United Nations' calendar Aug. 22, Pakistan and India are among places of particular concern for Christian rights advocates.
Jesuits evicted from residence after Nicaragua university seized
By David Agren, OSV NewsNicaraguan officials evicted a team of Jesuits from their home in the capital city of Managua shortly after seizing a prestigious university from the religious order -- an act the Society of Jesus called a "spectacle."
Nicaragua regime shuts down Jesuit university, accuses it of 'terrorism'
By David Agren, OSV NewsThe Jesuit-run Central American University in Managua suspended operations Aug. 16 after Nicaraguan authorities branded the school a "center of terrorism" the previous day and froze its assets for confiscation -- actions marking an escalation in the regime's repression of the Catholic Church and its charitable and educational projects.
Church leaders 'deeply pained,' condemn anti-Christian vandalism in Pakistan
By Aftab Alexander Mughal, OSV NewsThe Pakistani Catholic church strongly condemned the Muslim mob attack on churches and Christian properties Aug. 16 and demanded justice.
In Colombia, priests and lay workers will help monitor ceasefire
By Manuel Rueda, OSV NewsThe Colombian bishops' conference has welcomed the beginning of a six-month ceasefire between the nation's military and the largest remaining rebel group in the country, and began to train dozens of priests and lay workers from different parts of the country on how to help monitor the truce.
'Miraculous' survival of Maui Catholic church seen as sign of hope amid wildfire destruction
By Patrick Downes, OSV News"For us, it's like a miracle," Msgr. Terrence Watanabe, the Honolulu Diocese's vicar of Maui and Lanai, said about Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in the town of Lahaina being seemingly untouched by the fierce Maui wildfires Aug. 8-9.
Catholics appeal for help as Biden declares Maui's deadly fires a federal emergency
By Patrick Downes, Julie Asher OSV NewsCatholic Charities Hawai'i in the Honolulu Diocese has appealed for donations to help the agency meet housing, food and other needs of what could be thousands of victims from wildfires raging on the island of Maui that wiped out an entire town and drove people to seek refuge in the ocean.
Slovenian bishops urge prayer, Caritas support as nation battles historic floods
By Gina Christian, OSV NewsCatholics in Slovenia are rallying emergency aid and turning to prayer as record floods have ravaged that nation, killing at least six and leaving hundreds homeless.