News/International
Turkish bishops won't contest plan to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque
By Jonathan Luxmoore, Catholic News ServiceOXFORD, England -- Catholic bishops in Turkey pledged not to contest plans to turn Istanbul's ancient Hagia Sophia cathedral that now serves as a museum into a Muslim place of worship.
Africans still seething after Floyd killing
By Damian Avevor, Catholic News ServiceACCRA, Ghana -- Weeks after the death of George Floyd, the killing of the unarmed African American is still being condemned by African governments and organizations, with some describing it as an unjust murder.
USCCB president 'deeply concerned' about court's LGBT ruling
By Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said he is "deeply concerned" that by ruling federal law protects LGBT workers from discrimination, the U.S. Supreme Court "has effectively redefined the legal meaning of 'sex' in our nation's civil rights law."
Church leaders urge COVID-19 vaccine development to be ethical
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Spanish Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera of Valencia made headlines when he described as a "work of the devil" attempts to find a COVID-19 vaccine using cell lines created from fetuses aborted voluntarily decades ago.
Sisters escape violence
By Christina Lee Knauss, Catholic News ServiceCHARLESTON, S.C. -- The four Daughters of St. Paul who live and work on Charleston’s King Street closed up their books and media store like normal May 30.
After ‘taking a knee,’ bishop gets a call from Pope
By Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON -- It’s called “taking a knee,” and many professional athletes around the country have made the gesture publicly to protest police brutality in the wake of the May 25 killing of George Floyd.
Americans urged to heal race wounds
By Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON -- As protests continued around the world at the killing by police of George Floyd, United States bishops called for Americans to celebrate the country’s diversity and pray for the end of the deep sin of racism.
Australia's bishops, religious consider proposals for change in governance
By Michael Sainsbury, Catholic News ServiceMUDGEE, Australia -- Australia's bishops and religious are considering the recommendations for change in a 208-page review into the governance of the church.
China makes preaching patriotism compulsory to reopen churches
By Catholic News ServiceBEIJING -- Catholics are upset about a directive from China's communist government asking priests to "preach on patriotism" as a condition for reopening liturgical services, suspended earlier this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northern Ireland's Legislative Assembly rejects U.K.-imposed abortion law
By Simon Caldwell, Catholic News ServiceMANCHESTER, England -- Politicians in Northern Ireland rejected an "extreme" new abortion law imposed on the province from Parliament in London.
Trump visits shrine on anniversary of St. John Paul II visit to Poland
By Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News ServicePresident Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington June 2 shortly before he was expected to sign an executive order at the White House to expand U.S. support for international religious freedom efforts.