International
Unfazed by danger and power, Guatemalan cardinal keeps up fight for migrants and the poor
By Giovanna Dell'orto — April 15, 2024
HUEHUETENANGO, Guatemala (AP) — Elevated by Pope Francis to the top hierarchy of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Álvaro Ramazzini has continued his unflinching focus on the poor, the Indigenous and the migrant.
As a landmark United Methodist gathering approaches, African churches weigh their future.
By Peter Smith — April 15, 2024
(AP) — Today, members from four continents vote at legislative gatherings, serve on boards together, go on mission trips to each others’ countries and are largely governed by the same rules.
Vatican complains after French court rules in favor of nun dismissed from religious order
By Nicole Winfield — April 15, 2024
ROME (AP) — The case is highly unusual, because it represented a secular civilian court essentially determining that the Vatican’s in-house canonical procedures grossly violated the nun’s fundamental rights.
Bollywood is playing a large supporting role in India’s elections
By Preminda Jacob — April 11, 2024
(The Conversation) — Ahead of elections in India, a series of films that promote the ruling party’s right-wing ideology are seeking to influence voters. An art historian explains how the trend started.
Desperate young Guatemalans try to reach the US even after horrific deaths of migrating relatives
By Giovanna Dell'orto — April 11, 2024
COMITANCILLO, Guatemala (AP) — Tens of thousands of youths from this region of Guatemala would rather take deadly risks than stay behind where they see no future.
Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr, but the festivities are marred by the war in Gaza
By Niniek Karmini and Andrew Wilks — April 11, 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Preachers in their sermons called on people to pray for Muslims in Gaza who were suffering after six months of war.
The fight against Hindu nationalism in the United States is multifaith, says a newly formed coalition
By Richa Karmarkar — April 5, 2024
(RNS) — A declaration from the newly formed coalition Savera: United Against Supremacy expressed the group's 'acute concern' of Hindu nationalism, which they say now 'finds itself in a deepening alliance with various facets of the American far-right.'
Muslim athletes push boundaries to keep on training despite fasting during Ramadan
By Ken Maguire — April 5, 2024
LONDON (AP) — Dawn-to-dusk fasting poses obstacles about the best time to exercise — if it's an option — because it can adversely impact sleep and energy levels.
Peru archbishop who sued 2 journalists over reports on abuses, financial corruption resigns early
By Franklin BriceÑo and Nicole Winfield — April 4, 2024
ROME (AP) —The Vatican has had its eye on religious movement Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, which has chapters across South America and the U.S., for over a decade.
For the Maya, solar eclipses were a sign of heavenly clashes − and their astronomers kept sophisticated records to predict them
By Kimberly H. Breuer — April 3, 2024
(The Conversation) — The skies and the gods were inseparable in Maya culture. Astronomers kept careful track of events like eclipses in order to perform the renewal ceremonies to continue the world’s cycles of rebirth.
Pope exposes confidential details of past conclaves and settles scores with Pope Benedict XVI’s aide
By Nicole Winfield — April 3, 2024
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis's frail health has raised questions about how much longer he will remain pope, whether he might follow in Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s footsteps and resign.
Ships with a second round of aid for Gaza have departed Cyprus as concerns about hunger soar
By Associated Press — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — The United Nations and partners have warned that famine could occur in devastated, largely isolated northern Gaza as early as this month.
One year ago, Pope Francis disavowed the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ – but Indigenous Catholics’ work for respect and recognition goes back decades
By Eben Levey — April 1, 2024
(The Conversation) — Indigenous Catholics have long argued they should be able to embrace both sides of that identity.
Israel’s high court says the government must stop funding seminaries. Could that topple Netanyahu?
By Julia Frankel — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — The politically powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13% of Israeli society, have traditionally received exemptions while studying full time in religious seminaries, or yeshivas.
Israelis stage largest protest since war began to increase pressure on Netanyahu
By Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and And Samy Magdy — April 1, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — Protesters blame Netanyahu for the failures of Oct. 7 and say the deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack.
