Russian pagans celebrate summer solstice despite opposition from Orthodox ChurchMALOYAROSLAVETS, Russia — Tambourine throbbing in hand, Velislav chants to gods whose cult has almost been obliterated by a millennium of Christianity in Russia. More Vermont church properties face liens to cover awards in priest sex abuse trialsBURLINGTON, Vt. — A judge has put liens on four church-owned rest homes and part of the Vermont Roman Catholic diocese’s investments in order to cover jury awards in two priest sex abuse cases. Iraq’s top Shiite clerics are silent on political struggles next door in IranNAJAF, Iraq — There is no place outside Iran that has closer links to Tehran’s ruling establishment than Iraq’s holy Shiite city of Najaf, where the silence during Iran’s post-election crisis says much about the deep complexities of their cross-border bonds. Irish government tells Catholic orders guilty of child abuse to document wealth by mid-JulyDUBLIN — The Irish government announced Wednesday that it expects Catholic religious orders responsible for decades of child abuse to report by mid-July on their cash and assets — the next step in making them pay more to thousands of victims. Wearing head scarves, wielding rocks: Iranian women take center stage in country’s protestsEDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media. Prominent Chinese dissident arrested after 6 months in secret detentionBEIJING — A well-known Chinese dissident who co-authored a bold political manifesto calling for greater freedom and an end to one-party rule has been arrested in an attempt to cow dissent ahead of the 60th anniversary of communist rule this fall. Web-based petition seeks healing, softer gay marriage stance from Mormon leadersSALT LAKE CITY — A group of current and former Mormons at odds with the church’s position on gay marriage and its political activism to ban it has launched a Web site asking the faith to soften its stance. Nephew of NY’s Cardinal O’Connor alleges sex abuse by Catholic priest at Pa. schoolWILMINGTON, Del. — A nephew of the late New York archbishop Cardinal John O’Connor alleged in a lawsuit filed Thursday that he was the victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest. Pope deplores priests’ infidelities, calls for full acknowledgement of church’s weaknessesVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI deplored priests who were unfaithful to their vows and called Thursday for a “frank and complete acknowledgment” of the Catholic Church’s weakness in a letter to priests around the globe. Iran’s opposition stages another mass rally in Tehran over disputed electionTEHRAN, Iran — An amateur video shows another mass rally of opposition supporters in Tehran and state TV also reported the protest over disputed presidential election. Iran’s opposition leader calls for mass rally Thursday in direct challenge to governmentTEHRAN, Iran — Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a direct challenge Wednesday to the country’s supreme leader and cleric-led system, calling for a mass rally to protest disputed election results and violence against his followers. Opposition leader Mousavi calls for mass rally Thursday in direct challenge to Iran governmentTEHRAN, Iran — Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a direct challenge to the country’s supreme leader and cleric-led system Wednesday, calling for a mass rally to protest disputed election results and violence against his followers. Vatican China envoy: time has come get tough with Beijing; diplomatic relations overvaluedVATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s top envoy for China says the time has come for the Holy See to get tough with Beijing and not compromise over religious freedom, saying relations are taking a “worrisome slide” for the worse. Iraqis blame al-Qaida for killing of prominent Sunni lawmaker as leaders vow solidarityBAGHDAD — The government blamed al-Qaida in Iraq Saturday for the killing of a prominent Sunni lawmaker, as political figures joined together across sectarian lines in a show of solidarity against a return to violence. Connecticut diocese appeals ruling releasing documents detailing alleged priest abuseNEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport asked the Connecticut Supreme Court on Friday to reconsider a ruling that would make public thousands of pages of documents that detail alleged sexual abuse by priests. Suicide bombers hit Pakistan mosque, religious school after Friday prayers; at least 2 deadLAHORE, Pakistan — Friday prayers had just ended when the suicide bomber walked into the seminary office of a popular anti-Taliban cleric and detonated his explosives. Ex-priest accused of molesting children in 1970s, ’80s to be extradited from Calif. to UKLOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles judge has ruled that a former Catholic priest suspected of abusing altar boys in the United Kingdom can be extradited to face trial there. Iraqi Shiite militant accused in 5 US deaths freed; father of 1 of soldiers expresses outrageBAGHDAD — The surprise release of a Shiite militant linked to the killing of five U.S. soldiers in Iraq is part of a high-stakes gambit that could result in freedom for five British hostages and a political role for a major Shiite extremist group with reputed ties to Iran. Text of President Barack Obama’s speech at Cairo University in EgyptText of President Barack Obama’s speech at Cairo University, as provided by CQ Transcriptions. Iraq’s Shiites seek to revive coalition ahead of January elections in threat to SunnisBAGHDAD — Steps are under way to rebuild a coalition of Shiite political parties, a move that would solidify the majority sect’s grip on power but embitter disaffected Sunnis and stoke fears of Iranian influence as the U.S. role here fades. Supreme Court clears expansion of Arizona ski resort on mountain sacred to Indian tribesFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down an appeal from Indian tribes that wanted to block expansion of a ski resort on a mountain they consider sacred, but an attorney for some of the tribes said the fight may not be over. Obama says US would never ban religious clothing, avoids question on Muslim scarves in FranceCAEN, France — President Barack Obama says he’s not responsible for how other countries defend religious freedoms but added the United States would never tell people what they can wear to express their faith. ‘Be Beautiful and Vote’: Women everywhere in Lebanon election, except as candidatesBEIRUT — A seductive woman looks out from the billboards that line Beirut’s highways proclaiming, “Be Beautiful and Vote,” one political party’s appeal to women in this beauty-obsessed nation’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Pope to meet with top Irish churchmen after abuse report publishedVATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI meets Friday with Ireland’s top churchmen following the publication of a damning report detailing decades of rapes, humiliation and beatings at church-run reform schools in Ireland for castaway children. Obama quotes Quran, Bible, Jewish law, seeking common ground in region where faiths clashNEW YORK — President Barack Obama showed respect for Islam by quoting from the Quran in his speech Thursday but did so in a way meant to resonate with Christians and Jews as well. Text of Obama’s speech at Cairo University in EgyptText of President Barack Obama’s speech at Cairo University, as provided by CQ Transcriptions. Catholic orders in Ireland bow to government pressure, pledge more aid for child-abuse victimsDUBLIN — Bowing to government pressure, 18 Roman Catholic religious orders that had abused thousands of Irish children pledged Thursday to allow external audits of their finances and to establish an entirely new compensation fund for victims. Issues President Barack Obama outlined in his speech to the Muslim worldQuotes from President Barack Obama on issues he outlined Thursday in his speech to the Muslim world: Catholic orders that abused children meet Irish government amid calls for more moneyDUBLIN — Leaders of 18 Roman Catholic religious orders responsible for the abuse of thousands of Irish children in their care met government leaders Thursday to discuss what more they can contribute to the victims. Text of Obama’s speech in CairoText of President Barack Obama’s speech at Cairo University, as provided by CQ Transcriptions. |
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