Church - CDE News - The Dispatch

Photo Story: Fatima Sanctuary without pilgrims for the first time in its history

Fatima Sanctuary is seen without pilgrims for the first time in its history during the May International Anniversary Pilgrimage in Fatima, Portugal, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 13th May…

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Photo Story: Birth of Buddha commemorated

Buddhist monks wear protective face mask as they pray in front of a statue of Lord Buddha on the eve of his 2564th birth anniversary at a monastery in Bhopal,…

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South Korea’s big churches reopen

South Korea's large churches reopened on Sunday, requiring worshipers to keep their distance and wear masks, after the government relaxed restrictions on religious gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of…

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Muslims mark Ramadan with unprecedented virus lockdowns

Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under coronavirus lockdown on Friday with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pushback in some countries has sparked fears…

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Cypriots celebrate Easter under lockdown

Cypriots had a different Easter experience this year, with restrictive measures preventing them from going to church or attending big family gatherings. “The inability to attend church should make people’s…

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Orthodox Christians — 300 million worldwide — today are observing Easter, their biggest holiday

Officials in Eastern Europe and the Middle East urged people not to attend services, fearing this would lead to a spike in coronavirus infections. However, in Georgia, worshippers are still…

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Over 100 priests have died in Italy due to Coronavirus pandemic

Over 100 priests have died in Italy with the coronavirus, the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) said Friday. "They have offered up their lives, expressing once again the beautiful face of…

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Society has to stand behind women victims of domestic violence – Pope

Pope Francis said that society had to stand behind women victims of domestic violence, as abuse increased around the world during coronavirus lockdowns. After reciting the Regina Caeli in the library of…

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Virtual service with photos of the members in the church

Photos of believers who were asked to send in pictures are attached to the rows of seats, for an Internet broadcast service in the empty St. Barbara church in Obrhausen,…

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With dawn comes hope

Pope Francis presided over the most solemn and noblest of all solemnities, the Easter Vigil, on Saturday evening in a near empty St Peter's Basilica. Millions around the globe, however,…

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Easter is not cancelled – Coronavirus will not overcome us – Queen Elizabeth

Easter is not cancelled and is needed as much as ever, the Queen has said, as she urges Britain to take heart from its message of hope to know that…

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A solitary Pope presided the Via Crucis on Good Friday

Pope Francis presides the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) in the empty square outside the Saint Peter's Basilica, due the lockdown to stem the spread of the COVID-19 infection…

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Turin’s Holy Shroud veneration to be broadcast live on Holy Saturday

On Saturday 11 April, there will be an extraordinary veneration of the Shroud in Turin Cathedral, which will be broadcast live on Italian television and through social media platforms. From…

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Easter lockdowns around the world

Measures ranging from the draconian to the quixotic – a French mayor has banned sitting on benches – represent a collective warning to citizens who may be tempted to take…

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Photos: Mountains light up in Poland for anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II

The Giewont Mountain in Zakopane, in the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland, on Thursday evening, was lit up in a spectacular light show to commemorate the death of Pope John Paul…

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Watch: Pope Francis goes on foot to San Marcello al Corso invoking the end of the Co-Vid19 pandemic

This afternoon, shortly after 16:00, Pope Francis, left the Vatican in as a private citizen and visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, to address a prayer to the Virgin,…

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Church’s social teaching can help AI serve the common good

In the newly emerging discipline of “the ethical development of algorithms” or more simply “algor-ethics”, a critical contribution can be made by the principles of the Church’s social teaching, namely…

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Irish Catholic Church records on baptisms and other sacraments may be inspected over GDPR concerns

The State’s data watchdog in Ireland may have to inspect Catholic Church records in its investigation into whether the church is legally obliged to delete records of people seeking to…

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Relic believed to come from Christ’s manger arrives in Bethlehem

A tiny wooden relic which some believe to come from Christ's manger has arrived in Bethlehem ahead of Christmas. The relic was first sent to the Vatican 1,400 years ago…

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Photo Story: Westminster Cathedral lit red in homage to persecuted Christians

The Westminster cathedral is lit in red in London, Britain, 27 November 2019. This is part of an initiative by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need called #RedWednesday…

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Archbishop Scicluna speaks at Notre Dame University about the Vatican’s fight against clergy abuse

University of Notre Dame students and members of the community listened to Malta Archbishop Charles Scicluna talk about the Vatican's fight against sex abuse. It took place at the Duncan…

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High-tech rosary bracelet promoted by the Vatican

The Vatican promoted the launch of a ‘smart rosary’ bracelet Tuesday compatible with an iOS and Android app. The “eRosary” bracelet is activated by making the sign of the cross,…

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Photo Story: Thadinkyut Lighting Festival

A Buddhist monk lights up an earthen lamp while worshiping at the Botataung Pagoda on the Thadinkyut full moon day on Sunday in Yangon, Myanmar. The Thadinkyut festival, also…

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Row in Italy over pork-free tortellini

In Italy there is an ongoing polemic regarding Muslim-friendly pork-free tortellini that were ordered by the diocese of Bologna. The diocese of Bologna, which had ordered Muslim-friendly pork-free tortellini for…

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Italian Education minister considering removing crucifixes from schools

Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramonti this week considered removing crucifixes from schoolrooms to underline their secular nature, sparking a huge row. "I believe in a secular school, I think that schools…

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Safeguarding must be woven into Church life across the globe – Pope Francis

There is a continuing need for the culture and mission of Safeguarding to be systemically embedded into the life of the Church across the globe. In this regard, the Pontifical…

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Photo Story: Mother Teresa’s death is remembered in Kolkata

Sister Prema (R), superior-general of the Mother House, speaks during a mass to mark the 22nd anniversary of Mother Teresa's death, at The Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity…

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Pope Francis begins Apostolic journey to Africa

Pope Francis on Wednesday departed to Maputo, Mozambique for an Apostolic Journey will see him visiting Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius from 04 to 10 September 2019. He’s going to deliver…

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Photo Story: Mother Teresa remembered on the anniversary of her birth

A series of photos of nuns and visitors taking part in a mass prayer during a service celebrating Mother Teresa's 109th birth anniversary at the Mother House of the Missionaries…

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Polemic between exorcists and Jesuit head over existence of the Devil

The Devil really exists, the International Association of Exorcists (AIE) insisted after the head of the Jesuit order said Satan was just a symbol. Jesuit Superior General Arturo Sosa Abascal…

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World must stamp out persecution of religious groups, Guterres declares on new UN Day

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the persecution of religious groups on Thursday, the first ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on…

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Photo Story: The Janmashtami Festival in Mumbai

Indian college girls dressed as Lord Krishna pose for photograph during Janamashtami festival celebrations at Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) college in Mumbai, India. Janamashtmi is celebrated as the birth…

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Photo Story: The Parsi New Year in Mumbai

An Indian Zoroastrian family takes selfies near the knights reliefs in a fire temple on 'Nowruz', the Parsi New Year Day, in Mumbai, India, 17 August 2019. Nowruz is the…

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Photo Story: The procession of the feast of the Assumption in Paris

Clergymen carry the statue of Mary with Child during a procession near Notre-Dame cathedral for the Assumption in Paris, France. The procession route has been modified this year, further…

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Photo Story: Preparations for Virgin of La Paloma festivities in Madrid

Local policemen and faithful move a float for the Virgin of Paloma's procession before the mass and procession to mark the Virgin of Paloma day in Madrid, Spain, 15 August…

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Clashes break out on Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Clashes broke out between Muslim protesters and Israeli police forces on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount holy site, known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif and the Al Aqsa Compound, on Sunday,…

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Photo Story: The Eid al-Adha celebrations

Indonesian Muslims look at balloons during an Eid al-Adha prayer service in Depok, Indonesia, 11 August 2019. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year,…

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1.8 million pilgrims arrive for Hajj Pilgrimage

More than 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia amid final preparations for the most sacred week in the Islamic calendar. Saudi Passport officials said that this year…

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Photo Story: Eid al-Adha 2019 preparations in Yemen

A Yemeni boy displays toys for sale at a bazaar ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, in Sana'a, Yemen. Millions of Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Adha,…

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First day of Hajj confirmed as Aug. 9

The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed Thursday that the crescent moon of Dhu Al-Hijjah had been sighted. Hajj will therefore begin on Friday August 9, pilgrims will spend the day on…

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Arabic, Muslim symbols ordered to be taken down in Beijing

Authorities in the Chinese capital have ordered halal restaurants and food stalls to remove Arabic script and symbols associated with Islam from their signs, part of an expanding national effort…

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Photo Story: Facial coverings banned in the Netherlands

A niqab veiled woman pulls her shopping bag along a street in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Facial coverings will be banned in the Netherlands, from public transport, schools, hospitals and government buildings…

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Photo Story: India criminalizes Muslim instant divorce

Indian Muslim women show victory sign as they pose for a photograph during a gathering organized by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to celebrate passing a law outlawing instant divorce practice…

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German daycares under police protection after plans to stop serving pork

Plans to no longer serve children pork or gelatin-containing products like gummy bears at two daycare centers in the eastern German city of Leipzig prompted a wave of criticism online…

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German churches lose 430,000 Catholic and Protestant members in 2018

DW quotes data published on Friday by the German Bishops' Conference and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) that states that Germany's Catholic Church lost 216,078 members and Protestant churches lost some 220,000…

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Religious harassment worsening across world

Government restrictions on religion have increased in many places around the world -- not only under authoritarian countries but also in democracies, most notably in Europe, according to a report…

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Photo Story: The aquatic pilgrimage of the Virgin of Carmen in Panama

Residents transport a statue of the Virgin of Carmen, patron saint of navigators and ports, on a fishing boat during an aquatic pilgrimage on the day of fishermen and…

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UK backs stronger protection for Christians worldwide

There needs to be a "sea-change" in how the UK treats worldwide anti-Christian persecution, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. Hunt had ordered a review into the issue. He said…

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One in five churches in the Netherlands are no longer used for religious purposes

One in five churches in the Netherlands are no longer used as a place of worship and most have been turned into homes or cultural centres, according to research…

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Muslim world prepares for the end of Ramadan

The Saudi Supreme Court has called on all Muslims throughout Saudi Arabia to sight the crescent of the month of Shawwal on Monday evening. This will signal the end…

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Church in Ireland urges parents not to buy smartphones as Holy Communion gifts

Archbishop Eamon Martin, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, has advised parents against buying smartphones for their children as a Holy Communion present, saying there are "an…

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Use of human remains as compost legalised in Washington

Washington has become the first state in the US to legalise human composting. Under the new law, people there can now choose to have their body turned into soil…

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Four Catholics killed during a procession in Burkina Faso

Armed assailants killed four Catholics and destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary in northern Burkina Faso, Catholic church officials revealed, the third deadly attack against Christians in the West…

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UPDATED: Religious tension escalates in Sri Lanka, social media networks blocked

Police have imposed a curfew in the Sri Lankan town Chilaw after a dispute between Christians and Muslims, that began on Facebook, turned violent. In the meantime, Sri Lankan…

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Month of Ramadan fasting for many Muslims begins Monday

Muslims in Southeast Asia and much of the Middle East will start their Ramadan fasts on Monday while those in places like India, Pakistan and Iran will likely start…

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Christian persecution in the world near “genocide” levels

The persecution of Christians in parts of the world is at near "genocide" levels, according to a report ordered by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The review, led by the Bishop…

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New website gives a close look at the Shroud of Turin

A new website aims to make available to all a collection of photographs of the Shroud of Turin by a scientific photographer who was part of a research project that…

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