Church
Christians fleeing ISIS must get priority asylum in Europe - bishops
Christians fleeing Islamic State and other terror groups must be given priority for asylum in Europe, according to the Bishop of Coventry.
Jesus' baptism site to get tourist boost after becoming world heritage site
The site in Jordan believed to be where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist has been designated a world heritage site.
Pope Francis: Authoritarian church leaders are 'servants of the devil'
The Pope has issued a strong warning against those tempted by personal charisma to be authoritarian leaders in the Church, describing such leaders as "servants of the devil".
Pope Francis brings message of hope as he lands in Ecuador to start Latin America trip
Pope Francis has begun his week-long visit in three countries in South America on Sunday afternoon, arriving in Ecuador where he was greeted by a youth orchestra and a long line of Catholic crowd from the airport to Quinto.
Brian Houston on his father's child abuse: 'a nightmare that would change my life'
Hillsong's Brian Houston has detailed his own slide toward depression after discovering that his father had sexually abused underage children.
'No kindness towards strangers': Defector describes forbidding life in North Korea
In what is claimed as the "greatest nation on earth" ruled by then "benevolent god-leader" Kim Il-sung and now his son Kim Jong-il, "kindness towards strangers is rare," said a defector and now-human rights advocate.
8 major religious groups in US prohibit same-sex marriage, according to study
Eight of the largest religious institutions in the United States oppose same-sex marriage, which has recently been legalised by the Supreme Court across the country.
Fearing intense pain, woman with terminal cancer asks California to allow her to die
Although faith groups oppose doctor-assisted suicide, a 46-year-old Christian woman diagnosed with terminal cancer is asking the state of California to allow her to die.
Pope Francis hints willingness to retire as he talks about 'time limit' for church posts
The Roman Catholic Church should not have leaders who cling to their positions for a long time similar to dictators, Pope Francis told Christians in Vatican City.
Pope heads to South America to champion the poor and the planet
Pope Francis leaves Rome on Sunday for his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America, a "homecoming" to a continent where he will champion the rights of the poor and of the planet.
Pope Francis to speak about 'protection of creation' in July 5-12 Latin America visit
Pope Francis is set to return to his home continent on Sunday on a swamped seven-day apostolic visit to Latin America's peripheries: Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay, with the pontiff expected to speak about the "protection of creation" and social justice.
Iraqi Christians' fate hangs in balance as they wait for West aid, Kurdish autonomy
The fate of Christians in Islamic State-ravaged Iraq hangs in the balance as the minority waits for the US and the West for help and hopes for the Kurdish Regional Government's support for their eventual autonomy.
Mexico: Three elderly nuns tied up, gagged and assaulted
Three elderly nuns have been tied up, gagged and assaulted in a village in Mexico, nine months after the parish priest in the same village was subject to a similar attack.
Exclusive: Most Catholics do not accept Church doctrine on contraception, divorce or cohabitation - study
Most Catholics do not accept Church doctrine on contraception, divorce and remarriage or cohabitation, a new study shows.
Darlene Zschech, Andrea Bocelli sing at prayer for persecuted church event hosted by Pope Francis
Australian worship leader Darlene Zschech will join renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli at an ecumenical prayer and worship event for the persecuted church hosted by Pope Francis at the Vatican today.
Pope Francis on Greece debt crisis: 'Human dignity must remain at centre of any debate'
Pope Francis has encouraged the faithful to pray for Greece and her people amid the country's debt crisis and maintained that dignity should be the heart of political debates.