News/International

{mosimage}WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic health care and ethical groups thanked the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for clarifying its stand on artificial nutrition and hydration for patients in a persistent vegetative state in a pair of Sept. 14 documents.

{mosimage}VIENNA, Austria - On a three-day pilgrimage to Austria, Pope Benedict XVI brought a core theme of his pontificate to Central Europe, warning that a drift away from Christian values is leaving society unfulfilled, less charitable and without a real future.

{mosimage}VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, the most outspoken critic of the country's leadership who is also facing allegations of adultery.

{mosimage}SEOUL, South Korea - As 19 South Korean hostages returned safely to their country, Catholic and Protestant church leaders said it was time to reflect on overseas missions and service.

{mosimage}CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and expressed hope that new diplomatic moves can bring peace in the Middle East.

{mosimage}Eighteen years into a sometimes divisive debate, the Vatican has put a final stamp of approval on the Canadian lectionary — granting a recognitio to the inclusive language of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible in English.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Catholic emergency relief dollars are once again headed out to help victims of extreme weather associated with global warming.

{mosimage}The president of the Philippines is getting an earful from corporations with money to invest worried about the human rights record of Filipino police.

{mosimage}WASHINGTON - The United Nations’ decision July 31 to send a peacekeeping force to the Darfur region of Sudan drew cheers from Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based confederation of Catholic relief, development and social service organizations.