News/International

{mosimage}BELFAST, Northern Ireland - A Belfast-based Passionist priest said Northern Irish Catholics feel “joy and relief” that British military operations in the region have come to an end.

{mosimage}WASHINGTON - A recent Florida court case in which a jury awarded $23.5 million as compensation for the “wrongful birth” of a child is the latest sign that “society is moving toward designer children” who are not valued if they are not perfect, an official of the Florida Catholic Conference said July 30.

{mosimage}The highly publicized accusations of adultery against Bulawayo Archbishop Pius Ncube, Zimbabwe’s well-known opponent to the harsh regime of President Robert Mugabe, are just another part of the president’s campaign to discredit one of his most powerful critics.

{mosimage}ROME - Anoverwhelming victory for Turkey’s ruling Islamic-oriented party should be a “positive thing” for the nation’s Catholics, said Bishop Luigi Padovese, apostolic administrator of Anatolia, Turkey.

{mosimage}CAPE TOWN, South Africa - The lawyer for Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo said his client will deny in court allegations of adultery that are part of a “well-orchestrated campaign” to discredit him.

{mosimage}LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles archdiocese July 15 announced the largest church settlement of sexual abuse lawsuits to date, agreeing to pay more than 500 alleged victims a total of $660 million U.S.

{mosimage}VATICAN CITY - In a brief document, the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation reaffirmed that the Catholic Church is the one, true church, even if elements of truth can be found in separated churches and communities.

{mosimage}VATICAN CITY — In a long-awaited overture to disaffected Catholic traditionalists, Pope Benedict XVI relaxed restrictions on the use of the Tridentine Mass, the Latin-language liturgy that predates the Second Vatican Council.

{mosimage}In a groundbreaking letter to Chinese Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI established new guidelines to favour co-operation between clandestine Catholic communities and those officially registered with the government.

{mosimage}JERUSALEM - The Gaza compound of the Rosary Sisters was ransacked and looted and sacred objects were destroyed during Palestinian infighting that led to the Hamas faction’s takeover of the Gaza Strip.