News/International

Auxiliary Bishop Nicholas Hudson of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster and Clare Ward, home mission adviser of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, address media July 7 in London about creating evangelization teams for every parish in England and Wales.

English, Welsh bishops launch initiative for 'missionary parishes'

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LONDON - Catholic bishops in England and Wales hope to establish evangelization teams to transform about 5,000 churches into "missionary parishes."

Pope Francis told students and educators at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador July 7 that humans were invited to grow and protect creation. A floral hummingbird is seen as the Pope celebrates Mass in Bicentennial Park in Quito, Ecuador.

Educate young to care for others, for the earth, Pope tells teachers

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QUITO, Ecuador - Education is a right and a privilege that should impart not only knowledge and skills, but also a sense of responsibility for others and for the earth, Pope Francis told representatives of Ecuadorean schools and universities.

Pope Francis greets the crowd outside the cathedral in Quito, Ecuador, July 6. The Pope is making an eight-day trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Building unity in church, society is key to evangelization, Pope says

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QUITO, Ecuador - Catholics will never be effective evangelizers if they are squabbling among themselves, and they cannot show the world how faith in Christ responds to the human yearning for freedom and peace if they are divided, Pope Francis said.

Australian Cardinal George Pell told Irish delegates that preserving religious freedoms will be the new political struggle. The cardinal is pictured in a 2014 photo in Sydney.

Same-sex votes show society abandoning Christian foundations

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CORK, Ireland - The outcome of May's same-sex marriage referendum in Ireland and the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on the same issue clearly show the extent to which Western society is abandoning many of its Christian legal foundations, said Australian Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy.

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives to celebrate Mass in Los Samanes Park in Guayaquil, Ecuador, July 6.

Families need prayers, mercy, courage, including from synod, Pope says

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GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador - Even if a pastoral proposal for helping a Catholic family with problems seems scandalous at first, it is possible God could use that proposal to bring healing and holiness, Pope Francis said.

The Pope requested private prayer time before the image of Our Lady of Sorrows, which hangs over the altar in Iglesia de la Compania, in Quito's colonial-era Jesuit church.

Pope expected to pray in Jesuit Ecuador church, known as 'Baroque icon'

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QUITO, Ecuador - When Pope Francis enters the Jesuit church here July 7 for a moment of private prayer, he will step into an architectural gem where trees once grew up through the floor.

An Israeli family experienced the surprise of a lifetime when, during a home renovation, workers discovered a 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath, called a mikvah.

Israeli couple finds 2000-year-old Jewish ritual bath

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JERUSALEM - An Israeli family experienced the surprise of a lifetime when, during a home renovation, workers discovered a 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath, called a mikvah.

The Oklahoma state Supreme Court ordered a monument featuring the Ten Commandments be removed from the state Capitol grounds June 30. An attorney general who planned to petition a rehearing argued that a similar monument in Texas, pictured above, was found constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules Ten Commandments monument must go

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OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Supreme Court ordered a Ten Commandments monument removed from the state Capitol grounds June 30, three years after its installation sparked a religious feud.

Pope Francis greets children in traditional dress as he arrives at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador, July 5. Also pictured is Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, left. The Pope is making an eight-day trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Pope in Ecuador says countries owe debt to the poor

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QUITO, Ecuador - Although still thousands of miles from his birthplace in Argentina, Pope Francis made a homecoming of sorts July 5 when he landed in Ecuador, greeted by cheering crowds and the sights and sounds of South America.

Rosa Frias, third from right, poses with young people, in Limpio, Paraguay, where her charity Children of Paraguay recently opened a children’s medical clinic. The Ottawa woman was inspired to continue her work after an audience with Pope Francis.

Pope Francis’ trip to Paraguay brings joy to Ottawa woman

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OTTAWA - Nine months ago Rosa Frias was blessed to meet Pope Francis and tell him about obstacles she faced in opening a children’s clinic in her home town of Limpio, Paraguay. So the Pope’s visit to Paraguay July 10-12 has special significance for Frias now that her dream has come true and her clinic has been opened.

Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion said the American church’s decision will cause distress for the wider Anglican community. He is pictured in this Feb. 20, 2014 photo.

Anglican head expresses concern about Episcopal vote on gay marriage

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CANTERBURY, England - Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Anglican Communion, has expressed deep concern about the stress that the Episcopal Church’s vote on gay marriage might cause to some in the 80 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion.

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