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Christian schools struggle to survive in Pakistan

Yousaf Adnan remembers retiring as principal of a Pakistani high school in 2011 due to a shortage of funds. “After serving for two decades in the Catholic school, my salary was only 5,700 rupees [US$36]. The teachers used to get half of that amount. The ceiling fans were as old as our careers,” Adnan, 56, […]

Bangladesh’s churches struggle to serve as Covid-19 rages

Churches in Bangladesh are struggling to provide the faithful with spiritual and pastoral care and to assist marginalized communities amid a drop in donations during the worsening Covid-19 situation. A deadly third wave of the pandemic hit the country in June as the more contagious Delta variant caused a massive spike in infections and deaths. […]

Pakistani archbishop demands ministry of minority affairs

“There was a ministry for minorities in the past which was a good, successful experience. Currently, minority issues are handled by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, which is usually occupied dealing with other religious affairs and the promotion of interfaith harmony in Pakistan,” said the president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference. […]

No Church possible without women religious

The women section of the Conference of Religious of India undertook a study after media reported about widespread exploitation of Catholic women religious in the Church. The reports in L’Osservatore Romano and Matters India in 2018 spoke of nuns in menial occupations with little recognition from their “employers” in the Church. “The articles were eye […]

Forced conversion of Christian girl in Pakistan condemned

A human rights group working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith condemned the “forced conversion” of a 13-year-old girl who works as a household help in Pakistan. “Perhaps Pakistan is the only country where such crimes are happening on a daily basis under the cover of Islam,” said Nasir Saeed, director […]

Marian pilgrimage gets green light in Pakistan

After a year on pause, Lahore Archdiocese has announced the annual pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Mariamabad village will go ahead under strict safety guidelines. The 72nd pilgrimage will be held from Sept. 10-12 under the title “Holy Mary Mother of Mercy.” “Observe all SOPs [standard operating procedures] about the Covid pandemic and arrive […]

Myanmar junta under fire for ‘brutal’ clampdown

Myanmar is on a watchlist of countries that have seen a recent and rapid decline in fundamental democratic freedoms. More than four months since the Feb. 1 military coup, the assault on civic space has persisted with the arrest and detention of activists and protesters, use of excessive force and firearms against protesters and disruption […]

Patna Jesuits distribute Covid relief kits poor

A voluntary organization of the Patna Jesuits on June 26 distributed Covid-19 relief kits to some 650 poor families in the capital city of Bihar. Jesuit Father Juno Sebastian, director of Manthan (Churning), said that this time they focused mostly the hamlets of Musahar, the Dalit community at the bottom of the former untouchables. Around […]