World News
Canadian church pledges support for Muslims after attack on family
A statement by the Archdiocese of Toronto lamented that Canadians have been "targeted for their faith" in the June 6 attack labeled by police as a hate crime in which four Muslim family members were run down while taking a walk.
Crime of abuse is personal failure, not institutional, cardinal says
Last week a German cardinal resigned to take responsibility for failures of the church to address clergy sex abuse. Now a retired Vatican official says claiming an institutional moral culpability is a mistake.
Pope orders study of clergy congregation before prefect retires
As he did before naming a new prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship, Pope Francis has asked a bishop to conduct a visit of the Congregation for Clergy.
European, U.S. bishops ask governments to work for sustainable world
Catholic leaders "on both sides of the Atlantic" prayed for "a renewed transatlantic partnership" featuring better working conditions and trade policies, help for poorer nations and arms control.
Effort to end human trafficking builds in West Africa
Participants in a conference from Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso are strengthening networks to protect young people forced into prostitution, pornography, erotic entertainment and labor.
Third Catholic church in eastern Myanmar hit by military strikes
Military fire hit Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church June 6. The church's walls were badly damaged and the windows were broken by the shelling, but there were no casualties as people had fled to relatives' homes and into the jungle.
Priesthood always involves closeness with the faithful, pope says
Priests must wish to serve "the holy people of God" as pastors by being "able to live, laugh and cry with your people -- in other words, to communicate with them," Pope Francis told a group of priests studying in Rome.
Nun slain by three teenagers in satanic sacrifice beatified as martyr
Sister Maria Laura Mainetti, "who loved young people more than anything, and who loved and forgave those same girls imprisoned by evil, leaves us her program for life: do every little thing with faith, love and enthusiasm," Pope Francis said.
Dignity comes from work, not money, pope tells young people
Promoting employment is a key part of promoting and protecting human dignity, Pope Francis said. Young people also must show older generations what it means to "inhabit the world without trampling on it," he said.
Indonesian archbishop says he was targeted twice by assassins
The prelate of a Christian-majority region says he was targeted this year at his home and his cathedral by Islamic militants who planned to meet with him and blow themselves up.