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Minority rights recognised only on paper in Pakistan

“I saw my son bleed, bruis-ed, unconscious. I shouted his name, splashed water on his face and gently slapped him to wake him up, but he no longer moved,” said Ghafoor Masih, a Christian, father of Saleem Masih, who was beaten to death in Baguyana village on 25 February. The 24-year-old was punished for bathing in […]

Filipino bishops: Like Hong Kong, we too are sliding towards dictatorship

A few days ago, we received a letter from His Eminence, Charles Cardinal Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. It was an ardent request for prayers for Hong kong, on account of the signing into law of a new National Security Act. He explained in his […]

At least 9 Catholic bishops have died from the coronavirus

At least nine Catholic bishops have died from the coronavirus worldwide as the pandemic continues to spread across the Americas. Bishop Henrique Soares da Costa of Palmares, Brazil, became the latest bishop to die of COVID-19 on July 18. He died at the age of 57. Archbishop Emeritus Pedro Ercílio Simon of Passo Fundo died […]

UAE criticises the decision to turn Saint Sophia into mosque, stresses its universal heritage

Humanity’s cultural land- marks should be preserved for their value and function, and must “neither be misused nor altered” for personal purposes, said Noura Al Kaabi, the United Arab Emi-rates (UAE) Minister of Culture and Youth. For Al Kaabi, the decision of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoðan to turn the Basilica of Saint Sophia, now […]

Burning Cathedrals, Burning Questions About Religious Freedom

Nantes’ 600-year-old Gothic Church, the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, one of France’s most cherished landmarks, was intention-ally set ablaze by arsonists on July 18. During the conflagration, some 16th century stained glass windows were blown out and shattered, while a priceless 17th century church organ was entirely consumed in the inferno. Repairs […]

Ecocide, ethnocide, terricide worse than Coronavirus: Amazon Assembly

The first Global Assembly for the Amazon closed with a final declaration which states that ecocide, ethnocide and terricide are worse than the Coronavirus. The assembly was held on July 18-19 and was promoted by the Coordination of indigenous organizations of the Amazon Basin (Coica), the Pan-American Social Forum (Fospa) and the Pan-American Church Network […]

Vatican calls for ‘ethics of risk against COVID-19

The Pontifical Academy for Life released a paper on the eff-ects of the pandemic. Titled Hu-mana Communitas in the age of pandemic: untimely meditations on life’s rebirth, it starts from the realisation that human “fragility” has been made worse by the pandemic. The document notes that “all of us may succumb to the wounds of […]

Vatican: In rare cases, lay faithful can lead marriage rite

The Vatican said on July 20 that in very exceptional circum-stances and with special permission, lay Catholics can be allowed to perform marriage rites. In a document issued by the Holy See office for clergy, the Vatican said that could only happen if there are no priests or deacons available, the nation’s bishops sign off […]