Middle East - Africa News
Police in Kenya detain two suspects in murder of Italian bishop
Police in Kenya have detained two suspects who may have been involved in the murder of Bishop Luigi Locati, Apostolic... Read more
US first lady donates $500,000 to Catholic AIDS program
The United States first lady, Laura Bush, pledged $500,000 to support a Catholic program in Tanzania that provides support to... Read more
Scientist calls Cardinal Schonborn’s evolution editorial a ‘much needed clarification’ on Church teaching
In light of a recent firestorm over a New York Times editorial by Vienna’s Cardinal Christoph Schonborn discussing the Church’s... Read more
Jerusalem officials cancel annual gay pride parade
Jerusalem officials have decided to ban the fourth annual gay pride parade, organized for June 30, claiming the march would... Read more
Pope says Western influence is cause for ‘sexual immorality’ in Africa: Botswana bishop
An African bishop returning from his first Ad Limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome said the weeklong meeting... Read more
Vicar-general of Khartoum released
The vicar-general of the Diocese of Khartoum, Fr. Peter Ayung, was released from prison yesterday. The priest had been arrested... Read more
Iran liberalizes laws on abortion
The Iranian parliament voted today to legalize abortion for foetuses who are deemed mentally and physically disabled, reported BBC News. Read more
Iraqi Catholics mourn Pope, hold memorial mass
Despite potential danger, several hundred people gathered at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church in Baghdad yesterday for a special memorial mass... Read more
Harrisburg bishop’s alma mater raises funds since ordination
Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Harrisburg returned to his alma mater yesterday to mark Catholic Schools Week and to unveil a... Read more
U.S. soldier in Iraq requests prayers for upcoming vote
A U.S. soldier in Iraq is requesting prayers as the military unit prepares to deliver the voting machines and ballots... Read more
Kidnapped archbishop says Pope’s appeal resulted in his quick release
The Iraqi archbishop, who was kidnapped Monday but released yesterday after 19 hours in captivity, credits the Pope for his... Read more
Lutheran panel says ‘no’ to same-sex marriage; proposes tolerance for homosexuality
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America should officially maintain its traditional position against same-sex blessing ceremonies and ministers involved in... Read more
Archbishop kidnapped in Iraq on verge of election
Today the Vatican released a statement deploring the kidnapping of a Catholic Archbishop in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Read more
Bethlehem mayor says Israeli occupation is driving away Christians
The mayor of Bethlehem said that the “bitterness” of the Israeli occupation is driving more and more Christians away from... Read more
Dark future for Christians in Arab regions if world continues neglect, says scholar
The situation in the Arab world has reached a point at which the further subjugation and persecution of Christians in... Read more
New declaration says protecting marriage important in protecting family
International pro-family leaders issued a declaration Dec. 3, urging governments around the world to protect the family by upholding, preserving... Read more
Motherhood and fatherhood are complementary Cardinal explains at Family summit
At the International Conference on the Family this morning in Doha, Qatar, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical... Read more
Sudanese government expells charity worker, warns aid organizations in Darfur
The Sudan director of the UK based aid agency Save the Children was expelled from the east African country yesterday,... Read more
Catholics rebuild churches in Iraq despite ongoing violence
Father Nizar Semaan, a Catholic priest from the city of Mosul, told the Fides News Agency this week that Christians... Read more
Pilgrimages to Holy Land needed to diminish Christian exodus
Representatives of different Christian denominations signed a statement this week exhorting the faithful around the world to make pilgrimages to... Read more
