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Anti-Christian violence on the rise in India

Two women were raped and killed among six Christians murdered for their faith in India in the first half of this year, according to a newly released report. Three others — two Christian women and a 10-year-old girl — were raped for their refusal to give up their new faith, said the half-yearly report released […]

Dismay at removal of religious figures from Karnataka syllabus

Church and political leaders in India’s southern State of Karnataka have expressed dismay over the state removing chapters on Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad from the school syllabus. The state run by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also removed chapters on prominent leaders like Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali who once ruled […]

Northern Indian bishops to launch migrant resource centres

Catholic dioceses in northern India plan to set up centres to help migrant labourers. This was decided on August 7 during a virtual meeting organized by the Commission for Migrants under the Regional Bishops’ Council of the North (RBCN) in collaboration with its counterpart under the Conference of Catholic Bishops’ of India (CCBI). The diocesan […]

Funeral regulations aim to split Chinese Catholics

The Diocese of Shanghai on July 27 issued a circular saying that Catholic priests who officiate funeral prayers at the city’s Longhua Funeral Parlour should produce their identity cards to prove they are state-recognized priests. Across the globe, a Catholic priest’s approval comes from the Church and its Sacrament of Holy Orders. But in China […]

Sino-Vatican deal two years later: Priest calls on Holy Father ‘not to renew the Agreement’

“I call on the Holy Father not to renew the Agreement with China, because this could thre-aten the survival of the Church in China, driving us onto the path of despair,” writes Benedict, an underground Catholic in northern China. He and Fr John, a priest in northern China, have added their voices to AsiaNews‘s investigation […]

Bp of Faisalabad: Unjust laws and policies do not ensure equality in the country

A conference on ‘Collective efforts for advancing diversities’ was held, eve of Pakistan’s Mi-norities Day. A number of speakers representing religious and civil society groups addressed the ga-thering. One of them was Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad who said that “disparities of rights in policies and laws can never ensure equality of status and treatment.” […]

Anglican priest uses chopsticks to distribute communion

A Church of England vicar has tapped in to her Chinese cultural heritage and is using chopsticks to give bread to parishioners during Holy Communion. The Rev Eileen Harrop took the unusual approach to the challenge faced by clergy who are reopening churches for public worship while sticking to Covid-19 safety protocols. The vicar of […]

Catholic Hong Kong media tycoon’s arrest sparks fear Church could be next

Earlier prominent Catholic millionaire and media tycoon Jimmy Lai was arrested in Hong Kong along with two of his sons and two executives of his Next Media company on charges of collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to defraud under China’s new national security law. The three were released on bail late on August 10 […]