News/International
In Philippines, fear of aftershocks keeps people in the streets
By Simone Orendain, Catholic News ServiceMANILA, Philippines - Like many others in the town of Jetafe, Fr. Chito Lozada and his staff at Santo Nino parish did not go inside their homes Oct. 15; they remained outdoors.
They feared aftershocks that continued after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck earlier in the day.
Nazi war criminal's SSPX funeral stopped by protests
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X offered to celebrate a funeral for convicted war criminal Erich Priebke after the diocese of Rome said the service would be allowed only in a private home, but violent protests outside the chapel forced cancellation of the Mass.
Foreign intervention against al-Shabaab necessary, church leader says
By Francis Njuguna, Catholic News ServiceNAIROBI, Kenya - Foreign intervention in the fight against al-Shabaab militants in Somalia is necessary, but not an absolute requirement, said the leader of the Catholic Church in Somalia.
Church leaders assess damage after strong quake in central Philippines
By Catholic News ServiceBOHOL, Philippines - Bishop Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran said the church in central Philippines was still assessing damage after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake left dozens dead.
Malaysian court rules Catholic newspaper cannot use 'Allah'
By Catholic News ServiceKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A Malaysian court said a Catholic newspaper may not use the word "Allah" to refer to God in its Malay-language edition.
At least 13 dead as boat carrying pilgrims capsizes in Amazon
By Lise Alves, Catholic News ServiceSAO PAULO - At least 13 people died and five were reported missing after a boat carrying devotees of Our Lady of Nazareth capsized in the Amazon River.
German bishops' conference investigating multimillion building project
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - The president of the German bishops' conference said he is following with "great attention and great concern" the case of a bishop accused of making false statements in court and under fire for allegedly spending close to $40 million in renovations and new construction on his residence and diocesan offices.
Melkite archbishop in Lebanon leads outreach to Syrian refugees
By Dale Gavlak, Catholic News ServiceLARNACA, Cyprus - Melkite Archbishop Issam Darwich of Zahleh and Furzol, Lebanon, knows what it's like to be a stranger in strange land.
Pope meets Rome Jews, commemorates deportations to Auschwitz
By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - At a meeting with members of Rome's Jewish community, Pope Francis denounced anti-Semitism and recalled the 1943 deportation of more than 1,000 of the city's Jews to the most notorious Nazi death camp -- an incident that has proven a major source of tension between the papacy and Jewish leaders.
Church workers: Honduran mine concessions fuel human rights abuses
By Ezra Fieser, Catholic News ServiceSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Four years after a coup d'etat threw Honduras into crisis, church workers said human rights abuses continue unabated, fueled by disputes over mining concessions.
Vatican takes another step in promoting financial transparency
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - With the adoption of a detailed new law on financial transparency, vigilance and information, the Vatican has almost completely revamped its finance laws in less than three years, the Vatican spokesman said.