On 2 March 2010, the IFP (Institute for Family Policies) presented a report to the European Parliament entitled Abortion in Europe and Spain. In 2008, 2.9 million abortions were carried out in Europe, i.e. one abortion every 11 seconds or 7,846 abortions per day.

Vatican City, February 20- The number of Catholics worldwide rose by 19 million from 2007 to 2008 according to the Vatican almanac presented to the Pope on Saturday morning. The 2010 "Annuario Pontifico," or Pontifical Yearbook, which offers a variety of other statistics concerning religious and lay faithful in the Universal Church, also reports an increase in seminarians.

A new website called Pornography Harms has been launched to provide access to credible, peer-reviewed research documenting the ill effects of pornography. The site was created by Patrick Trueman, a former chief of the U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

ROME, Jeudi 4 Février 2010 - Dans le rapport qu'il a établi devant les évêques orthodoxes russes à l'occasion du premier anniversaire de son intronisation, le patriarche Kirill a évoqué les « tendances positives » enregistrées dans le cadre du dialogue entre orthodoxes russes et catholiques.

Mosul, Iraq, January 28 - The new Archbishop of Mosul, replacing his kidnapped predecessor who died in captivity, says his mission is to give "hope and confidence" to persecuted Iraqi Christians who face bombings, killings and other pressures to leave the city, an ancient center of Christianity. The 42-year-old Archbishop Amil Shamaaoun Nona replaces Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who was kidnapped outside his cathedral nearly two years ago and died ten days later. The new archbishop, formerly a priest of the nearby Alqosh diocese, was installed in his cathedral on Jan. 22, about two weeks after his episcopal ordination.

Rome, Italy, January 28 - A new book released by a Vatican official on Wednesday details lesser known facts about the late John Paul II, including his self-mortification practices, hand written instructions for his resignation in case of incurable illness, and a plot by Italian militants to kidnap him in the 1980's.

Vatican City, January 19 - The Vatican Press Office presented on Tuesday the "Lineamenta" document in preparation for the convocation of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Middle Eastern Bishops. The document aims to stimulate discussion for the creation of a "working document" that will provide guidelines for the upcoming synod, which will be held in the Vatican from Oct. 10 - 24 of this year.

Moscow, Russia, January 20 - The Gospels, four icons, crosses and a relic of the True Cross have been taken aboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), a Russian cosmonaut has reported. A photo taken by the station crew shows an icon and a crucifix floating in zero gravity in the ISS.

Vatican City, January 17 - After praying the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI remembered those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. He prayed that patroness of Haiti, the Virgin Mary, protect and assist them so that they might "find aid and comfort."

French daily La Croix indicated that the report by the parliamentary enquiry committee charged with re-examining the 2004 bioethics laws was being finalised. It mainly focuses on embryonic research and embryonic stem cells. This report will be submitted to MPs in the bioethics committee before being put to the vote next week.

ROME, Mercredi 13 janvier 2010 - A l'occasion de Noël, l'archidiocèse de Karachi, au Pakistan, a lancé la première chaîne de télévision satellitaire catholique du pays, Good News Tv, qui diffuse des messes chaque jour et des récitations de chapelets mais également des informations liées à l'actualité et des programmes de loisirs.

ROME, Mercredi 13 janvier 2010 - Le document préparatoire pour le Synode pour le Moyen Orient sera publié et présenté à la presse mardi prochain 19 janvier 2010.

Mexico City, Mexico, January 11 - Archbishop Emeritus Carlos Quintero Arce of Hermosillo in Mexico encouraged the use of adult stem cells in medical research last week, underscoring that such a practice does not violate the right to life of embryos and respects the integrity of human life.

Rome, Italy, January 11 - Archbishop Robert Sarah, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples said last week that the recent attacks against Christians in Malaysia are designed to annihilate and reject "those who believe in Christ."

Washington D.C., January 11 - On Monday, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz praised the efforts of the recent New Jersey State Senate vote to preserve the traditional definition of marriage on Jan. 7, expressing gratitude for the "courage" the senators displayed.

San Francisco, Calif., January 10 - Dolores Meehan, co-founder of Walk for Life West Coast, will be a keynote speaker at the sixth annual Paris "March for Life" on Jan. 17. The Paris March, known in French as "Marche Pour Le Respect de la Vie," has become a rallying point for pro-lifers across Europe.

Luxor, Egypt, January 8 - The killing of seven in a drive-by shooting that targeted Egyptian Coptic Christians leaving a Christmas Eve midnight Mass has triggered clashes with police during a funeral procession for the victims.

Bethesda, Md., January 7 - An April 2009 study co-authored by a researcher who has previously denied an abortion-breast cancer link shows a statistically significant increase in breast cancer risk among women who have had abortions or who use oral contraceptives.

Washington D.C., January 4 - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta will appear on a U.S. postal stamp in 2010, the postal service announced last week. "With this stamp," notes the press release, "the U.S. Postal Service recognizes Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work."

Rome, Italy, December 17 - Archbishop Francis Chullikat, the Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan, has demanded the immediate intervention by Iraqi leaders to "guarantee the necessary safety of the Christian minority," in the wake of the attacks on two churches in the city of Mosul.