Login      Register  
Subscription

Indonesian bishops urge ecological conver-sion and social justice in Lenten message

“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10) — With these words of Christ as their inspiration, the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ende in Indonesia have issued a Lenten pastoral letter calling for ecological conversion, justice for the poor, and a renewed commitment to Gospel values. The […]

Young Christian in Pakistan brutally attacked for refusing to convert to Islam

Amid the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, a 22-year-old man was “brutally attacked” on March 22 by his supervisor after refusing to convert to Islam. The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reported the attack, pointing to it as yet another example of “the persistent religious intolerance present in much of Pakistani society.” […]

South Korea’s worst-ever wildfires kill dozens and displace almost 40,000

The country’s worst-ever wildfires, which engulfed a forest on March 27, have destroyed thousands of homes, infrastructure, places of worship and vehicles. The multiple wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry weather, have been raging across South Korea’s southeastern regions. The government has mobilized thousands of personnel, dozens of helicopters and other equipment to extinguish […]

Thailand bans corporal punishment of minors

Thailand has banned corporal punishment of minors. With this important step, the Southeast Asian country is aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in force since 1990, a source of debate, especially in school and families. Traditionally, the practice was tolerated in many families, and affected a high percentage of children […]

Hindus call off rally through Christian villages in eastern India

Government interventions have forced right-wing Hindu activists to call off a march, alleviating fears of an attack on Christian villagers in the eastern Indian state of Chhattis-garh. Christians across the state had been on edge after social media posts last month began mobilizing Hindu activists to march through three Christian villages, to demand the pro-tection […]

Dayal among three awarded for promoting religious freedom, civil liberties

John Dayal, a veteran journalist-turned human rights activist, was among three people chosen on March 5 for fighting for the cause of civil liberties and religious freedom. The annual Quaide Milleth Award, established in 2015, is given by the Che-nnai-based Quaide Milleth Educa-tional and Social Trust involved in the advancement of underprivileged sections of society. […]

Church ‘cautious’ about Indian state lifting liquor ban

Church leaders in the Christian-majority Mizoram have reacted cautiously to the government lifting a liquor ban in this state in India’s northeastern region. The state legislature, on March 10, amended the existing prohibition law amid opposition members walking out of the house protesting the change, local media reports said. However, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl […]

Catholics go on penitential pilgrimage in India’s Goa

Thousands of Catholics walked from their parishes in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in western India to the Our Lady of Good Health Church in Sancoale as part of an annual penitential pilgrimage. Father Barry Cardozo, director of the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, said this year being the Jubilee Year of Hope, […]