News/International

A biological manufacturing analyst at Stemnion, holds a cryovial Sept. 23, 2010 inside the "clean room" at the new facility in Clearwater, Fla. The Pittsburgh-based regenerative medicine company opened the Florida lab near a Catholic hospital where placentas are donated for use in adult stem-cell research.

Success rate in use of adult stem cells 'staggering,' says researcher

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Adult stem cells, easily harvested from human bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and fat tissue, have a successful track record in treatments for more than 90 medical conditions and diseases, including sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma cancer and damaged heart tissue.

Pope Francis makes the Sign of the Cross in 2014 after praying at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which UNESCO just declared a World Heritage site and the location of Jesus' baptism.

Jordan bank of river where Jesus baptized declared UNESCO heritage site

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JERUSALEM - UNESCO declared Bethany Beyond the Jordan, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, as a World Heritage site and the location of Jesus' baptism.

Members of the Little Sisters of the Poor attend the 2014 celebration of the third annual Fortnight for Freedom Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 14 the Little Sisters and other religious entities are not substantially burdened by federal procedures that would enable them to avoid providing contraceptives in health insurance coverage.

Nuns lose latest court battle to avoid contraception mandate

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The Little Sisters of the Poor — nuns who have refused to comply with the Affordable Care Act contraception mandate — lost their latest court case July 14.

World leaders take part in a press conference July 14 after reaching a nuclear deal with Iran. From left are Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi; French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius; German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier; Federica Mogherini, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy; Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif; British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond; and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Vatican welcomes Iran's historic nuclear deal

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VATICAN CITY - The Holy See welcomed Iran's historic nuclear deal and expressed hopes that more future breakthroughs be on the horizon on other issues.

Dr. Gregory Delgado, medical director of Culture of Life Family Health Care, speaks during the National Right to Life Committee's annual convention in New Orleans July 9.

RU-486 abortion pill can be reversed, says physician

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NEW ORLEANS - While the annual number of abortions in the U.S. has dropped from a high of 1.6 million in 1990 to about 1.06 million today, the number of chemical abortions through the use of RU-486 has increased and now represents about 25 per cent of all abortions.

Brittany “Bree” Newsome is arrested after the Confederate flag was removed from a pole at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C., on June 27, 2015.

Activist who took down Confederate flag drew on her faith and on new civil rights awakening

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HOT SPRINGS, North Carolina - As she prepared for her mission — scaling the nine-metre flagpole outside the South Carolina Statehouse to bring down the Confederate flag — Bree Newsome reread the biblical story of David and Goliath.

A group of Filipino bishops will draft a position paper to address climate change and to hopefully present it at the 2015 United Nations climate summit in Paris, said Archbishop Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.

Philippine bishops tackle climate change during general meeting

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MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines tackled climate change on different fronts and also addressed a host of other issues, from equitable education to sovereign disputes at its biannual plenary session July 6-13.

Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Asuncion, Paraguay, to Rome July 12.

Pope says he'll read critiques of his economic thought before U.S. trip

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM PARAGUAY - Before arriving in the United States in September, Pope Francis said, he will study American criticisms of his critiques of the global economy and finance.

People wait for Pope Francis' arrival to Banado Norte, a poor neighbourhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, July 12.

Pope says Paraguayans in poor barrio remind him of Holy Family

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ASUNCION, Paraguay - Pope Francis returned to his roots July 12 when he visited Banado Norte, a poor neighbourhood near the Paraguay River where residents battle seasonal flooding and face possible eviction.

Pope Francis receives flowers at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion, Paraguay, July 10.

Close to home, Pope highlights need for cooperation for common good

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CAACUPE, Paraguay - Pope Francis was as close to home as he has been since becoming pope in March 2013 as he celebrated Mass at Paraguay's popular shrine of Our Lady of Miracles of Caacupe.

Bill Levin poses in the sanctuary at The First Church of Cannabis, on June 23, 2015. The sanctuary, still under renovation, includes a painting on the back wall of two hands passing a cannabis cigarette. The painting, by CS Stanley, the church’s minister of art, is similar to a detail of the Michelangelo “Creation of Adam” on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Indiana’s Church of Cannabis files religious liberty suit

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INDIANAPOLIS - The First Church of Cannabis filed a lawsuit against the state of Indiana and city of Indianapolis, challenging state laws on possession and use of marijuana as infringing upon religious beliefs.
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