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News/International

Iraqi refugee Sami Dankha, 51, is trying to keep the Christmas spirit alive while in Turkey, despite being far away from his brothers in New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands.

Despite distance, Iraqi Christians keep the Christmas spirit alive

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ISTANBUL – Sami Dankha, his three brothers and their families used to kick off Christmas celebrations by attending a packed Christmas Eve Mass at St. Thomas Church in Baghdad. Wearing brand new clothes and sporting fresh haircuts, they would spend the night chatting, singing and eating pacha, a dish made from sheep's head that Iraqis consider a delicacy and a staple of Christmas.

A displaced Iraqi child walks outside tents Dec. 9 at the Hassan Sham camp near Mosul.

Mideast Christians, especially those displaced, face mounting challenges

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WASHINGTON – As Christians in the Middle East look back on 2016, they wonder if there will be much to celebrate amid mounting challenges, particularly for those displaced by conflicts in Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi Christians take part in a Nov. 19 procession to erect a new cross over a church, after the original cross was destroyed by Islamic State militants in the town of Bartella, Iraq, near Mosul.

Solving Mideast crisis, bringing peace to region decades away, speaker says

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VILLANOVA, Pa. – Consensus about the Middle East and its long-simmering tensions might seem hard to come by, but a dozen international scholars, government officials and leaders of nongovernmental organizations found a few points of agreement during a meeting at Villanova University.

Pope Francis has named Archbishop Marek Jedraszweski the new archbishop to Krakow, Poland, following the retirement Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz.

Pope Francis names new archbishop of Krakow, Poland

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KRAKOW, Poland – Archbishop Marek Jedraszweski has been named the new shepherd of Poland's Krakow archdiocese by Pope Francis, following the retirement of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz.

South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeals overturned a high court ruling Dec. 9 that would have allowed retiree Robin Stransham-Ford to access physician-assisted death.

Assisted suicide remains illegal in South Africa after court ruling

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PRETORIA, South Africa – While countries around the world such as Canada, Germany and Japan have passed legislation to legalize physician assisted suicide, one has ruled to reject it: South Africa.

Pope Francis greets a new priest during the ordination Mass of 11 priests in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 17.

Pope's Homily: Priests are called to console, not heap obligations on people

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VATICAN CITY – Priests are called to be mediators between God and God's people, offering their time and their very lives in service; they are not God's "intermediaries" or functionaries, who go to work to get paid or, worse, enter the priesthood in search of status, Pope Francis said.

Just before the Christmas tree lighting at the Vatican, Pope Francis says Baby Jesus reminds us of painful plight of migrants.

Baby Jesus reminds us of painful plight of migrants, Pope says before Christmas tree lighting

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VATICAN CITY – The Christmas tree and Nativity scene are symbols of God's love and hope, reminding us to contemplate the beauty of creation and welcome the marginalized, Pope Francis said.

Venezuelan bishops' justice and peace commission condemns the murder of 12 young people by a government security operation called the "Liberation of the People."

Venezuelan bishops condemn murder of 12 youths by government agents

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CARACAS, Venezuela – The Venezuelan bishops' justice and peace commission on Tuesday repudiated the murders of 12 young men by an operation of the Liberation of the People, a government security team meant to combat crime and homicide.

Ohio legislators have passed a ban on abortions once an unborn child's heartbeat can be detected, citing the prospect of a more favourable Supreme Court as a result of the election of Donald Trump as president.

Ohio lawmakers revive 'heartbeat abortion' ban

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Citing the prospect of a more favourable Supreme Court, Ohio legislators have passed a ban on abortions once an unborn child’s heartbeat can be detected.

Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh, left, Iraq's Archbishop Timothius Mousa Shamani and Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf

'Unbelievable' – Persecuted Christian bishops denied UK visas

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LONDON, England – U.K. officials drew strong criticism for denying visas to Middle East bishops from regions that have suffered Islamic State group persecution, preventing them from attending a cathedral consecration.

The Australian state of Victoria is looking to legalize euthanasia in 2017, which would make it the first state in the country to do.

Doctors warn Australian state against legalizing euthanasia

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MELBOURNE, Australia – The government of the Australian state of Victoria is looking to legalize euthanasia in 2017, but physicians have warned of the risk of diminishing palliative care, already under-utilized and underfunded.

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