More than 200,000 Germans formally left the Catholic Church in 2014, accelerating the downward trend in the Catholic proportion of the country’s population. Germans who are officially enrolled in congregation are subject to a “church tax,” and so disaffected Catholics have an incentive to drop their registration, rather than simplyContinue Reading
Canada has been named as the most reputable nation in the world, in a recent survey on how countries are perceived across the world. The north American country reclaimed the top spot in the Reputation Institute’s annual report, which looks at the government, environment and economy of 55 nations. TheContinue Reading
The eastern side of the River Jordan has been declared a World Heritage siteContinue Reading
Vatican City — Responding to waves of controversy after receiving a “communist crucifix” – a carving of Christ crucified on a hammer and sickle – from Bolivian president Evo Morales, Pope Francis said he took no offense, but understands the work as “protest art.” “I would qualify it as protestContinue Reading
Latakia –The organization of Franciscan missionaries serving in the Holy Land announced that Father Dhiya Aziz, who had been kidnapped early last week in Syria, was liberated. “The Custody of the Holy Land thanks those around the world who prayed for a successful outcome to this trial that Fr. DhiyaContinue Reading
Nepal: Earthquake-hit Nepal is planning to train 50,000 workers in a bid to carry out massive reconstruction works, the biggest skill development programme as the country braces for the slowest economic growth rate in eight years. Delivering the annual budget, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat Mahat said the government willContinue Reading
At least 14 people bitten during Mass conducted by Pope Francis, who has wrapped up his South American tour.Continue Reading
Israel’s first Irish dancing competition (feis) is currently the subject of a major effort calling for the event to be canceled as part of the cultural boycott of Israel. The feis, set to take part this August in Tel Aviv, is organized by The Carey Academy Israel, a new branchContinue Reading
Greece reached a deal with its European creditors on Monday, pledging stringent austerity to avoid an exit from the euro and the global financial chaos that could have followed. The deal calls for Greeks, already reeling from harsh measures and economic decline, to cut back even further in exchange forContinue Reading
Paraguay: Pope Francis put into practice his insistence that the world’s poor not be left on the margins of society by visiting a flood-prone slum outside Asunción on Sunday to offer residents a word of encouragement on the final day of his three-country South American tour. Francis drew cheers whenContinue Reading
