United Nations Archives

Memo to Pope and Trump: Here’s a breakthrough for you

Although agreement between Pope Francis and President Donald Trump on May 24 may be elusive on many fronts, one concrete step that could result from the meeting, and that both men presumably would approve, is for some share of U.S. overseas aid earmarked for ISIS victims to be administered by churches to ensure that it actually reaches suffering Christians.

Latest migrant tragedy prompts call to address root problem

“Poverty, conflict, unresponsive governments, and climate change are driving millions of people from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia to seek safety and opportunity in Europe,” Bill O’Keefe, vice president of government relations and advocacy for Catholic Relief Services, said in response to continued tragedies involving migrants.

Catholic leaders criticize Indonesia’s continued use of death penalty

The Philippines isn’t the only Asian country struggling with a revitalizing of the death penalty. Indonesia has rejected calls from the United Nations to end its use of the punishment, but the Catholic Church in the country challenges the government’s arguments for keeping it.

Vatican Academy head says UN should push “global social change”
- Vatican
- May 3, 2017
The President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Science, Margaret Archer says the Catholic Church is targeting international non-governmental organizations, such at the United Nations, to promote policies to bring about social change. She said the major problems facing society – such as carbon emissions, asylum seekers, terrorism – are international, not national, challenges.
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Vatican decries “genocidal scourge” of terrorism in the Middle East
- Pope Francis in Egypt, Vatican
- April 21, 2017
The chief Vatican diplomat to the United Nations said “there is no greater antidote to violence and hatred than dialogue and encounter” during a debate on the situation in the Middle East taking place at the UN Security Council. Archbishop Bernardito Auza also called on religious leaders to speak out against terrorism, especially when it’s done in the name of God.
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UN accredits Christian Solidarity Worldwide despite protests
- Associated Press, Global Church
- April 20, 2017
After years of deferrals, the U.N.’s Economic and Social Council voted to grant accreditation to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, an NGO that promotes religious freedom. The British-based group had asked to be allowed to attend open meetings and conferences at the UN starting in 2009.
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