World

Bill legalizing abortion passed in pope’s native Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina is the largest Latin American country to legalize abortion and the vote was being closely watched.

Top German Catholic bishop urges shift on women’s ordination, homosexuality
(RNS) — Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing referred to ‘well-developed arguments in theology in favor of opening up the sacramental ministry to women as well.’

Survey: UK teens are more likely than millennials to believe in God
(RNS) — The number is up from January, suggesting some may have embraced a belief in God during the pandemic.

Pope Francis strips Vatican Secretariat of State of assets in reform move
(RNS) — While the Secretariat of State’s power will still be considerable, the new decree increases the power of other Vatican agencies.

Each year 1,000 Pakistani girls forcibly converted to Islam
(AP) — The conversions, which pave the way for underage, non-consensual marriages, have accelerated during lockdowns against the coronavirus, human rights activists say.

Pope on Christmas: Vaccines for all; needy, vulnerable first
(AP) — With the world suffering an ecological and economic crises on top of the pandemic, Francis said, it is all the more important for us to acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters.”

How the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation got included in Congress’ $900 billion relief bill
(RNS) — The bill’s concern with reincarnation is aimed at reining in China’s meddling in Tibet’s religious affairs.

How much longer will the Middle East celebrate Christmas?
(RNS) — The birthplace of Christianity may soon be uninhabitable for its believers without reforms to help them survive.

Despite COVID-19, economic downturns, religious charities working overseas keep the faith
(RNS) — With declining numbers of volunteers and donors, global faith-based aid organizations are looking beyond their traditional sources of support.

Concern among Muslims over halal status of COVID-19 vaccine
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Questions about stabilizers that use pork products — banned by some religious groups — have raised concerns about the possibility of disrupted immunization campaigns.

Christians in Holy Land face bleak Christmas season due to COVID-19
(RNS) — A usually festive and economically important time for the Holy Land’s tiny Christian minority has been changed with an absence of pilgrims.

Cardinal Pell, publicizing new book, forgives enemies, praises Trump
(RNS) — Forgiveness is a recurring theme of the former Vatican official’s prison journal, and he told reporters that if anyone in the Vatican meant him harm, ‘I will pray for them.’

Christmas holiday bus attacks in Kenya bring condemnation from Christian and Muslim leaders
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Christian and Muslim leaders have stepped up interfaith dialogue in hopes of reining in the bus attacks and other threats to the border region’s small Christian community.

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says Biden will need to ‘rebuild trust’ with Palestinians
(RNS) — Years of being shunted aside by U.S. policy have taken their toll, said the spiritual leader of Latin rite Catholics in the Middle East.

Vatican unveils nativity scene and lights up tree for Christmas
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — ‘Christmas reminds us that Jesus is our peace, our joy, our strength, our comfort,’ Pope Francis said at the Vatican’s traditional lighting ceremony, Friday (Dec. 11).