December 30, 2016 In a Pakistan family, deal is made, a girl is given as bride Mohammad Ramzan can neither hear nor speak, and he has a childlike mind.
December 30, 2016 Displaced Iraqis return home for 'wartime' Christmas mass For the 300 Christians who braved rain and wind to attend Christmas's Eve Mass in their hometown, the ceremony evoked both holiday cheer and grim reminders of the war raging around their northern Iraqi town, and the distant prospect of moving back home.
December 30, 2016 Top China leader says Catholics must act 'independently' One of China's top leaders has told Chinese Catholics that they need to operate "independently" of outside forces and promote socialism and patriotism through religion.
December 29, 2016 Taiwanese students dress up as Nazis, commemorate Hitler Nazi-themed parade in Taiwan
December 29, 2016 Thai parliament grants king power to name Buddhist patriarch Thailand's military-appointed parliament has granted the king absolute power in naming a supreme patriarch, the top ecclesiastical position of Thai Buddhism.
December 28, 2016 Romania: Social Democrats make new proposal for premier Romania's main ruling party has proposed a regional politician as the next prime minister after the president turned down the party's first choice, an economist who could have become the country's first female Muslim premier.
December 28, 2016 China: Open to Vatican talks but Catholics must be patriots China said it is willing to have constructive dialogue with the Vatican but stressed the importance of patriotism to Beijing and adapting Catholicism to Chinese society.
December 28, 2016 Pope accepts resignation of once-embattled Cleveland bishop Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cleveland's bishop, who, in 2012, was overruled by the Vatican in his bid to close parishes.
December 28, 2016 China: Willing to have talks with Vatican but Catholics must be patriots China's head of religious affairs said that Beijing is willing to have constructive dialogue with the Vatican but stressed that Catholics should "hold up high the flag of patriotism" and adapt Catholicism to Chinese society.
December 28, 2016 The essential scorecard for religious liberty in 2016 The year 2016 has seen much conflict for religious freedom, not just domestically but worldwide.
