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Time to re-erect crosses in Zhejiang, say Chinese Christians 

Chinese Christians in the eastern province of Zhejiang are proposing that crosses taken down from churches during a government cross removal campaign be re-erected as way of celebrating the departure of an official responsible for their removal. The proposal — made by some Protestants in the area — was sent out via social media not […]

Gender-based abortions threaten Nepalese society

Since Nepal legalized abortion in 2002 there has been an epidemic of gender-based abortions. At least 50,000 abortions a year are performed after parents find out their unborn child is a girl. Gender identifi-cation of fetuses is illegal but many clinics do not follow the 11th amendment to the country’s civil code that details how […]

Indonesian bishop criticizes mega Jesus statue project

A Catholic bishop in Indonesia’s Papua province has criticized a plan by local authorities in Jayapura to build “the world’s tallest statue of Jesus,” calling the move a waste of much-needed money. Djuli Mambaya, head of Papua’s public work agency, told reporters last week that construction would cost 300 billion rupia (US$23 million) and begin […]

Three ‘stubborn’ Chinese priests held, as bishop goes free

Three underground priests from Mindong Diocese in eastern China were briefly detained the same day Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin was freed on May 6 after one month’s detention. Fathers Zhu Ruci, Xu Wenmin and Peng Zhenshen, vicar general, chancellor and procurator of the diocese respectively, were summoned to a so-called learning class to study religious […]

SOUTH KOREAN CATHOLICS HOPE CATHOLIC PRESIDENT-ELECT CAN UNIFY NATION

Catholics in South Korea have high expectations for unity, equality and an end to corruption under the country’s newly elected president, Moon Jae-in. In a congratulatory message to Moon that also noted the national rift that led to the special election, the head of the Korean bishops’ conference, Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Gwangju, said […]

Mural of saintly pope kissing devilish Trump appears in Rome

A life-size mural depicting Pope Francis with a saintly halo kissing U.S. President Donald Trump sprouting devil’s horns appeared on a wall near the Vatican on May 11 , less than two weeks before they are due to meet. The mural, which was painted on paper and pasted on to the wall during the night, […]

Vatican hosts cosmology conference to dispel faith-science conflict

Scientists from around the world are meeting at the Vatican Observatory in Castel Gandolfo for a conference that seeks to bring together science and religion in the continuing search for truth in understanding the mysteries of the universe. The scientific conference titled, “Black Holes, Gravitation-al Waves and Space-Time Singularities,” is an opportunity to show that “the church supports […]

Syrian Refugees Not Welcome in Eastern Europe

Though the flow of Syrian refugees into Europe has slowed since 2015, hundreds of thousands of Syrians were still seeking asylum there last year. If many in Eastern Europe had their way, however, the number would be zero. In nine out of 15 Eastern European countries and areas surveyed in 2016, at least half the […]