News/International
In El Salvador, families say U.S. churchwomen's work lives on
By Edgardo Ayala, Catholic News ServiceSANTIAGO NONUALCO, El Salvador - North Americans and Salvadorans gathered Dec. 2 at the precise spot where four churchwomen were killed 35 years ago to emphasize that their work for the country's poor remains alive.
Mass murder and the problem with prayer
By Jonathan Merritt, Religion News ServiceBy now, everyone with an internet connection knows about the San Bernardino, California shooting that claimed the lives of at least 14 people.
Potential terrorists threatened Pope, say police in Italy, Kosovo
By Catholic News ServiceBRESCIA, Italy - Italian State Police in Brescia, working with their counterparts in Kosovo, announced Dec. 1 that they had taken action against four Kosovars they believed to be terrorist risks and who, police said, made threats on social media against Pope Francis.
Northern Ireland's bishops call court ruling on abortion 'disquieting'
By Michael Kelly, Catholic News ServiceDUBLIN - The Catholic bishops of Northern Ireland have described as "profoundly disquieting" a ruling by the High Court that the region's ban on abortion in all but very limited circumstances breaches human rights legislation.
African bishops praise caregivers of people with HIV, AIDS
By Catholic News ServiceACCRA, Ghana - As the Year of Mercy neared, the bishops of Africa and Madagascar held up the work of families and local faith communities in caring for people with AIDS as a strong example of unconditional love.
Climate deal must be transformative, papal envoy tells leaders in Paris
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Heads of state discussing carbon emission limits must create a global and "transformative" agreement built on justice, solidarity and fairness, a papal representative told the U.N. climate conference in Paris.
Palestinian Authority limits Christmas celebrations in West Bank
By Michele Chabin, Religion News ServiceBETHLEHEM, West Bank - The Palestinian Authority has asked municipalities to tone down their public Christmas celebrations this year amid escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis.
Planned Parenthood shooting antithesis of pro-life movement, says priest
By Veronica Ambuul, Catholic NewsCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A priest who celebrates Mass every Friday morning on a sidewalk near the Planned Parenthood clinic targeted by a lone gunman Nov. 27 said the shooter's actions were the antithesis of the pro-life cause.
On eve of U.N. climate summit, Catholics join in calls for change
By Catholic News ServicePARIS - Hundreds of thousands of people in at least 150 countries around the world demanded action on climate change on the eve of a U.N. conference that aimed to find agreement on greenhouse gas emissions.
Archaeologists: Monks made up legends about King Arthur’s burial site
By Trevor Grundy, Religion News ServiceCANTERBURY, England - Twelfth-century Roman Catholic monks with their eyes fixed on the equivalent of medieval cash registers were responsible for spreading the story that King Arthur and his golden-haired wife, Guinevere, were buried at Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, one of England’s best known and most loved pilgrimage sites.
National Geographic magazine's cover story reveals Mary's appeal
By Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON - Maureen Orth, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine who has written about music icons, world leaders and Hollywood celebrities, tackled a completely different subject for National Geographic magazine: the Virgin Mary.