World News

No justification for abuses, cover-up, Chilean bishop says

The Catholic Church in Chile must do everything possible to repair the damage caused by clergy sexual abuse and subsequent cover-up, and accept the decision of the courts investigating cases, the new apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Santiago said.

Rejecting appeal, Vatican hands down final ruling against Guam bishop

The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has rejected an appeal by the now-former Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron of Agana, Guam, upholding its judgment of finding him guilty of abuse against minors.

Rome conference hopes to uproot prejudice against the Pharisees

Presenting the Pharisees as self-righteous hypocrites concerned more with the law than with people is prejudicial, biblically inaccurate and offensive to many Jews, several scholars said.

U.S. lay missioner in Salvador works to address root causes of emigration

With the support of Maryknoll Lay Missioners and a local community foundation, Larry Parr has created a variety of programs designed to provide safe spaces and alternatives for young people so they can become educated, stay out of gangs and develop into leaders and role models for their community.

Cardinal defends Vatican-China agreement amid criticism

Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists that the agreement was signed "to advance religious freedom in the sense of finding (some) normalization for the Catholic community" as well as other religious minorities.

Peruvian authorities investigate death of British brother in Amazon

Peruvian authorities are investigating the death of British De La Salle Brother Paul McAuley, whose burned body was found April 2 in a home he founded for indigenous students in Iquitos, in the northeastern Amazonian region.

Pope to celebrate Holy Thursday with prisoners

The pope will celebrate the Mass and the foot-washing ritual at the Velletri Correctional Facility April 18, the Vatican announced April 3.

South Sudan’s leaders will head to Vatican for meetings, retreat

The retreat "will be a moment of spirituality and, above all, an invitation for politicians as well as all the authorities to realize the responsibility they have" to promote peace.

People should not fear difference, but division, pope says at audience

No one should be afraid that God has allowed there to be different religions in the world, Pope Francis said.

Papal document addresses challenges of evangelizing in the digital age

While digital communications and social media can be used as a tool of evangelization and a place of dialogue with others, they also can be lonely environments where young people fall prey to humanity's worst vices, Pope Francis wrote.