International News

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Measles, chicken pox and other diseases are making a comeback as more parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children out of the fear of side effects, especially with regard to the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine. Skeptics are concerned it leads to sickness autism or death.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- All health facilities run by the Catholic Church in Eritrea have been seized by the government, the country's bishops said.

MEXICO CITY -- A catechist instructor was shot dead at a chapel in Chiapas state -- another example of how the violence consuming Mexico is impacting the Catholic Church.

WASHINGTON -- Spiritual advice was mixed with practical suggestions at the GIVEN Catholic Young Women's Leadership Forum held at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

HONG KONG -- As massive protests continued in Hong Kong, the auxiliary bishop pledged to remain with those opposing a controversial extradition bill and the resignation of the Chinese territory's leader.

As the U.S. Catholic bishops met in Baltimore to discuss new mechanisms to hold themselves accountable on sex abuse, the Southern Baptist Convention was wrestling with the same vexing issue at its annual meeting June 11-12 in Birmingham, Alabama.

WASHINGTON -- A 34-year-old sacristan is in the custody of Salvadoran authorities in connection with the May killing of a Salvadoran priest.

MANCHESTER, England -- Abortions in England and Wales have hit a record level, according to statistics released by the British government.

CHICAGO -- Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law an abortion bill that Illinois' Catholic bishops said eliminates "even minimal limitations on abortions under previous law" and whose passage by the legislature marked "a sad moment in our history as a state."

BALTIMORE -- While the sex abuse crisis consumed the June meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, prelates who work on the border, such as Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, have been facing a different crisis also involving children.