World News
Nebraska bishops, Kansas groups call for repeal of death penalty
Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha, Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln and Bishop William J. Dendinger of Grand Island said in March 17 statement that while Catholic teaching allows capital punishment under certain clear and specific conditions, "We do not believe that those conditions exist in Nebraska at this time."
British traditionalist bishop is excommunicated for illicit ordination
British Bishop Richard Williamson violated church law when he ordained Father Jean-Michel Faure, 73, a bishop without papal approval during a ceremony in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
U.N. says Pope Francis will visit morning of Sept. 25
In a statement March 18, the United Nations also said the pope would meet separately with the secretary-general and with the president of the General Assembly and would participate in a town hall gathering with U.N. staff.
Patriarch rejects calls for outside military intervention in Syria
"It is reckless to think of military interventions, conducted from the outside, to defend Christians in Syria and the Middle East," said Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus, Syria.
Assyrian Christians who escaped Islamic State seek refuge in Lebanon
As of March 17, the Assyrian Church of the East in Lebanon had registered 50 families from the region, and more are coming into neighboring Lebanon each day.
Syrian children risk becoming ‘lost generation,’ Vatican official says
Without family, a legal identity and adequate education, children uprooted by the ongoing violence in Syria and the Middle East "are at risk of becoming a lost generation," said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva.
Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare French couple saints
The canonization ceremony for Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, is likely to take place during the world Synod of Bishops on the family in October.
Welcome children, learn from them, pope says at audience
Children are a blessing for humanity and for the church, bringing new life and energy to families and society, Pope Francis said. Unfortunately, he said, too often children are society's "great rejected ones, because they aren't even allowed to be born!"
Blind students among thousands protesting rape of elderly nun in India
Students at a Hindu-run school for the blind joined a nationwide outcry over the gang rape of a 74-year-old Catholic nun.
Australian prelate maintains innocence after charges of hiding abuse
Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide has been charged with concealing child abuse by a priest, but maintained he is innocent of violating the law.