Global Church News

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  Catalan bishops: Church can't make specific proposals on independence from Spain

  Sep 30, 2015

  The Catalan regional bishops conference last Tuesday issued a statement ahead of Sunday's regional election – widely seen as an informal referendum on independence – saying the Church will not propose specifics, but can agree with positions that have “moral legitimacy.”

  
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  Pope appeals for life of Georgia death row inmate, but parole board rejects

  Sep 30, 2015

  The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has declined to commute the death sentence of a local woman scheduled to be executed tonight, despite a plea from Pope Francis to do so.

  
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  Mercy, dialogue to be the focus of World Communications Day

  Sep 30, 2015

  Announced Tuesday, this year’s theme for World Communications Day is inspired by the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, and stresses that social communications should be centered on mercy, dialogue and welcome.

  
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  Mgr William Goh : May Mary, Star of the New Evangelisation, guides us in the New Evangelisation

  Sep 29, 2015

  Mgr William Goh Seng Chye, Archbishop of Singapore, released a pastoral letter today in which he calls for “a renewal of faith among all Catholics” to “stand together as a people of communion in mission to proclaim like Mary”.

  
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  Pope: "I would love to go to China," which has "a great culture and a lot of good things"

  Sep 29, 2015

  Pope Francis "would love to go to China," which has "a great culture and a lot of good things”. He Pope himself said as much in his long question and answer session with journalists during the flight from Philadelphia to Rome, which arrived at 10 am local time.

  
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  As synod approaches, Nigerian bishops speak up for the family

  Sep 29, 2015

  Nigeria’s bishops closed their latest assembly with a view toward the upcoming Synod on the Family, re-affirming the family while warning about LGBT activism.

  
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  Pope Francis says goodbye, as U.S. trip concludes in Philadelphia

  Sep 28, 2015

  Pope Francis has bid the United States farewell. His plane departed for Rome on Sunday night, thus bringing to a close his first visit to U.S. soil.

  
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  'God bless America,' Pope Francis says as his U.S. visit comes to an end

  Sep 28, 2015

  Pope Francis completed his pilgrimage to the United States with a Sunday Mass on Philadelphia’s iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway, sounding a clarion call for love and unity hours after telling sex abuse victims that God cried for them.

  
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  Pope Francis issues final call for unity before leaving US at end of historic visit

  Sep 28, 2015

  With a sign of the cross from the steps of his plane, Pope Francis concluded a historic visit to the US on Sunday night, taking off from Philadelphia and heading back to Rome after six days which enraptured – and challenged – his hosts.

  
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  Pope Francis wraps up joyful US visit with big open-air Mass

  Sep 28, 2015

  Pope Francis urged hundreds of thousands of the faithful gathered Sunday for the biggest event of his U.S.