Associated Press Archives - Page 2 of 94

Mexican family mourns 11 dead after church falls at baptism
- Associated Press, Global Church
- September 21, 2017
Among the victims of a magnitude 7.1 quake in Mexico were 11 members of a family attending a baptism in the center of the country. The earthquake was centered in Puebla state, where it killed more than 40 people. Across Mexico it killed more than 200 people. Pope Francis expressed his closeness and prayers to the Mexican people during his general audience on Wednesday.
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Erie’s Mother Teresa Academy hoping for inner-city success
- Associated Press, Church in the US
- September 20, 2017
Although the new Mother Teresa Academy’s $5,000 tuition represents the cost per pupil at the school, students who qualify for reduced-price lunch will only pay $500 and those who qualify for free lunch will only pay $250, and 99 percent of current students qualify for one or the other. Administrators say the school isn’t free for students because paying some tuition provides parents with a sense of ownership.
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Rescued Filipino priest talks of need for religious harmony
- Associated Press, Global Church
- September 18, 2017
Father Teresito Soganub was among many civilians abducted in May when hundreds of militants waving IS-style black flags laid siege to mosque-studded Marawi, a center of Islamic faith in the south of the mostly Catholic Philippines. “I still believe in an interfaith relationship, that we can be united as Muslims and Christians, that we’re not enemies,” he said on Monday, days after his rescue by the military.
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The 11 sisters of Siervas are a rock band like ‘nun’ other

The Siervas, who come from eight countries and range in age from 20s to 40s, insist they aren’t rock stars. But they certainly act the part when on stage performing to the electric guitar, steady drumbeat and catchy lyrics, uniformly smiling as silver crosses dangle from their necks.

Pittsburgh diocese panel proposes merging 188 parishes to 48

A radical new plan in the Diocese of Pittsburgh could reduce the number of parishes to a third of their current number. A diocesan commission is recommending keeping multiple worship sites open in the parishes, although some churches would close. The number of active priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh is expected to decline from 211 to 112 by 2025.

Pakistani judge sentences Christian to death over blasphemy

Defense lawyers in Pakistan claim a friend falsely accused a Christian convicted this week of blasphemy after he was angered over an alleged affair the man had with a Muslim woman. They plan on appealing the decision. Domestic and international human rights groups say Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores and target minorities.