News/International
African Catholic bishops see Pope’s November visit as way to ignite faith
By Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News ServiceNAIROBI, Kenya - Pope Francis’ announcement that he will visit East and Central Africa in November has resounded in churches here, with Catholic bishops greeting it as an opportunity to boost the faith in the region.
Mass for archdiocese, visit to prison top Pope's Philadelphia itinerary
By Matthew Gambino, Catholic News ServicePHILADELPHIA - The first stop for Pope Francis when he visits Philadelphia the morning of Sept. 26 will be the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul to celebrate a special Mass for the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Pornography is sexualizing nation's children, say speakers
By Abbey Jaroma, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON - Pornography is sexualizing the innocence of the nation's young children, causing a race to adulthood before the end of childhood.
Ukraine monuments on mass graves recognize Jews killed in Holocaust
By Michael Scaturro, Religion News ServiceLVIV, Ukraine - Ludvika Sarah Leah Schein, who survived the Holocaust, hadn’t been to her hometown in 70 years. But she still vividly remembers the day Germans came to Rava-Ruska.
Ukraine churches reject constitutional move on same-sex rights
By Jonathan Luxmoore, Catholic News ServiceWARSAW, Poland - Ukrainian church leaders condemned plans to permit same-sex partnerships under a series of constitutional reforms.
Symposium looks at scientific evidence of how destructive pornography is
By Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON - The Catholic Church's strong stance against pornography is based on church teaching that the human body should be respected and every person has a God-given dignity.
Polish bishops condemn IVF law, warn Catholics to not use process
By Jonathan Luxmoore, Catholic News ServiceWARSAW, Poland - Poland's Catholic bishops condemned a law allowing state funding for in vitro fertilization, which was signed into law July 22 by outgoing President Bronislaw Komorowski despite a seven-year church campaign to block it.
‘Walk with Francis Pledge’ urges Washingtonians to do a good deed ahead of papal trip
By Sara Weissman, Religion News ServiceWASHINGTON - Standing beside a statue by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz called Homeless Jesus, Msgr. John Enzler pledged to spend a night with the city’s homeless before Pope Francis’ visit in September.
New video released with Planned Parenthood official discussing abortion
By Abbey Jaroma, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON - Amid an outcry from U.S. Republicans demanding answers to questions raised by a video of a Planned Parenthood physician talking about preserving fetal organs and tissue for researchers for a fee, a second video emerged July 21 of a different physician from the organization talking about the same topic.
Patriarch calls lives of Middle East Christians 'bad' and 'less bad'
By Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News ServiceJERUSALEM - Christians in the Middle East are facing difficulties ranging from "bad" to "less bad," said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem.
Pope Francis’ approval ratings fall in U.S.
By David Gibson, Religion News ServiceGrowing conservative disaffection with Pope Francis appears to be taking a toll on his once teflon-grade popularity in the United States, with a new Gallup poll showing the pontiff’s favourability rating among all Americans dropping to 59 per cent from a 76-per-cent peak early last year.