Asian

Dynamics of obedience, dissent within Chinese society

Since the commencement of the treated radioactive water release from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea in late August, an unsettling surge of over 400,000 nuisance calls has flooded the Japanese embassy in Beijing. This disturbing influx of harassing calls appears to be fuelled by an escalating anti-Japan sentiment in China, whether born […]

Iraq, Card. Sako: if Rome remains silent the future of Iraqi Christians at risk

Concerned for the future of Christians who today face a “different threat”, but one that is no “less serious” than the Islamic State. Embittered by the Holy See’s silence in the face of the mystifications of Rayan the Chaldean, the leader of a local militia calling itself Christian (but in the pay of Tehran) who […]

Tashkent: war on beards and veils against Islamic radicalism

The authorities of Uzbekistan are intensifying the campaign to combat excessively explicit manifestations of the Muslim religion in public places and in social life. As Radio Ozodlik illustrates, those who profess Islam are forced to cut their beards, and women are prevented from wearing the khidžab, the local version of the Islamic veil. There is […]

Two bishops from mainland China at the Synod in the Vatican

Like in 2018, two bishops from mainland China will be present at the Synod of Bishops set to open on 4 October at the Vatican, the Secretariat of the Synod announced at a briefing that saw the release of the latest list of participants. “The local Church, in agreement with the authorities, put forward two […]

Bangladesh promises minority panel ahead of national poll

The Bangladesh government has agreed to establish a commission to protect the interests of its religious minorities – Buddhists, Christians and Hindus – two days after the country’s largest forum of religious minorities launched a hunger strike. Officials announced the government’s decision to establish a minority commission by October, on Sept. 23, two days after the Bangladesh Hindu […]

Korean Catholics continue fight against coal power

South Korean government is moving ahead to launch commercial operation of the Samcheok coal power plant in Gangwon-do province in October defying opposition from civil society groups and Catholic Church. Since October 2021, Catholic groups have been staging protests every month at Maengbang Beach close to the construction site. The plant is expected to generate 2,044 […]

Pope Francis quotes Buddha at interreligious event in Mongolia

In a meeting with Mongolian Buddhists, Shamans, Shintoists, and other religious representatives, Pope Francis said Sunday that interreligious dialogue is “not antithetical to proclamation” but helps religious traditions to understand one another. “With humility and in the spirit of service … the Church offers the treasure she has received to every person and culture, in […]

Young Mongolian Catholics thrilled to join papal Mass

Some 2,500 people filled the Steppe Arena stadium in Ulaanbaatar two hours before Pope Francis arrived for the afternoon Mass on Sept. 3, his final full day of the four-day visit to Mongolia. When the 86-year-old arrived, the atmosphere was already abuzz with excitement and enthusiasm with a significant presence of young people. In several […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica