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Indian Christians observe annual ‘Black Day’ protest

Indian Christians observed what has become an annual “Black Day” protest on Aug. 10 as a vital panel readies to submit a report on granting reservation status under India’s affirmative action policy to Christian and Muslim Dalits. Protest marches, rallies, and debates were held across the country as different Christian denominations sought scheduled caste status […]

40 Priest Suicides Plague Brazil in 7-Year Nightmare

A Brazilian priest who specializes in psychological and pastoral approaches to preventing suicide and self-harm is raising the alarm at the Vatican following the suicides of at least 40 priests in Brazil over the past seven years. Loneliness, stress and excessive demands are driving priests to kill themselves, concludes Fr. Lício de Araújo Vale, from the diocese […]

China’s plan to resume cross demolitions worries Christians

Christians in Zhejiang province in eastern China have expressed their disappointment over a government plan to resume demolition of crosses in line with the socialist principles of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The province, home to about two million Protestants and about 200,000 Catholic Christians, has endured demolition of hundreds of crosses since 2014. In […]

Admission Free, but Churches Empty. Dreams and Realities of a Pontificate on the Wane

The Church “does not have doors”, and therefore everyone can come in, but truly “everyone, everyone, everyone, without any exclusion.” This is the message on which Pope Francis insisted most during his travel to Lisbon, in the run-up to a synod that – in its “Instrumentum laboris” – puts at the top of the list of those […]

White Father and Seminarian abducted

In north central Nigeria, a Missionary of Africa – Fr. Paul Salongo – was kidnapped alongside a Seminarian, Melchior, from the parish of St Luke Gyedna, in Niger State’s Paikoro government area. On August 3, the bandits entered, firing into the air, from the parish residence, and removed the White Father and the Seminarian. The […]

As fewer Americans identify as Christian, funeral industry says demand for cremation is on the rise

The head of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), which claims to be the world’s largest association of funeral professionals, says traditional burials are less popular and the demand for cremation is on the rise. The reason? According to NFDA President Jack Mitchell, it’s because fewer Americans are likely to be churchgoers. “Traditionally when someone […]