#VATICANCITY: Top-Ranking Vatican Official Convicted Of Child Sexual Abuse In Australia

[world politics news]

A top adviser to Pope Francis has been convicted of child sex abuse in Australia, the highest-ranking official convicted in the long-running Catholic Church scandal. An jury found Cardinal George Pell, 77, guilty on five charges of "historical child sexual offenses" that go back decades. The 12-member jury gave their unanimous verdict in the County Court of the State of Victoria in Melbourne on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Pres. Duterte Unloads On Catholic Church, Accuses Priests Of Corruption, Homosexuality

[world politics news]

Despite a recent blessing from Pope Francis, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has launched an angry attack on priests and bishops critical of his drug war, accusing them of homosexuality, corruption and child abuse. Furious over concerns by the Catholic Church of alleged extra-judicial killings during his crackdown, Duterte attacked clergymen for denouncing him instead of using their influence to get people off drugs. He challenged the church to a "showdown" and threatened to expose priests and bishops for a litany of abuses. "You expose me, fine. I expose you. Why? Your mistake is just all right, but ours is not? Bullshit. That is a big joke," he said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#BOLIVIA: Socialist Pres. Morales "Politicizes" Papal Visit With "Communist Crucifix" Gift; Pope: "This Is Not Okay"

[world politics news]

Pres. Evo Morales has sparked outrage by giving visiting Pope Francis a "Communist Crucifix" during his visit to Bolivia. The hammer and sickle symbol, upon which the crucified Christ appears, was designed by a Catholic missionary who was killed in 1980. The pope was heard to utter, "This is not okay" when receiving it.

#PALESTINIANAUTHORITY: #Vatican Formally Recognizes "Palestinian State" In New Treaty

[world politics news]

The Vatican has officially recognized a Palestinian state in a new treaty, which makes clear that it has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestinian Liberation Organization to a "state of Palestine." The UN has recognized a Palestinian state, but this is the first legal document to do so.

Pictured: Pope Francis welcoming Palestinian Authority Pres. Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican last June.

#VATICAN: Pope Rejects France's Choice of A Gay Ambassador To the Vatican

[world politics news]

The Vatican has refused to accept the nomination of the new French ambassador, a close aide of President François Hollande, because he is gay. Laurent Stefanini, a senior diplomat and French president's chief of protocol, was nominated in early January but the Vatican has "rejected" the nomination by its stony silence, which signals its failure to accept it.

VATICAN CITY: Netanyahu, Abbas, Accept Pope's Invitation to Vatican to Discuss Peace

[world politics news]

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both accepted a surprise invitation from Pope Francis to come to the Vatican to discuss the peace process he made during a trip to Bethlehem yesterday.