Asian

Pope Francis makes Easter plea for peace in Myanmar

Pope Francis has again plead-ed for peace and reconciliation in conflict-torn Myanmar where millions of people including Christians have been oppressed by the brutal military junta. During his Easter plea for peace around the world, he cited the Southeast Asian nation where violence has persisted for more than a year after the military ousted the […]

The curse of cult following in Pakistan

Ever since losing a vote of confidence moved by a united opposition this month, Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has divided the nation with his aggressive campaign — on the ground and online. You either agree with him or risk being called a traitor to the country, a thief or lifafa (a journalist accepting […]

Catholic midwife honoured on Kartini Day in Indonesia

A Catholic midwife who has served a remote Indonesian province for more than three decades was among 10 women honoured by the government during its 144th Kartini Day celebrations. Yovita Mariati, a midwife from Sikka district in East Nusa Tenggara province, received the award at the state palace in Jakarta on April 21. Indonesians celebrate the day […]

Burmese soldiers invade Catholic cathedral, detain archbishop

Approximately 40 Burmese soldiers forcibly took control of a Catholic cathedral in Mandalay prior to a Lenten prayer service on April 8 and detained an Archbishop and dozens of other worshippers, including a correspondent for CNA. The soldiers entered Sacred Heart Cathedral at 2:30 p.m. local time April 8 and refused to allow worshipers to […]

Bishops tell Filipinos not to gamble with nation’s future

Philippine Bishops have urged voters not to gamble with the country’s future in national elections in May by voting for corrupt and incompetent candidates. Their call came as senior Catholic officials, together with religious congregations and lay-people, gathered in Manila on April 6 for a solidarity Mass on the Catholic Church’s role in the polls. […]

Sri Lanka urged to respect people’s right to protest

A global civil society alliance has expressed serious concern over Sri Lanka’s clampdown on civic space and urged the government to release those detained arbitrarily and investigate and punish abuses by security forces. “We urge the government to refrain from deploying violence against protesters and instead respect and protect people’s rights to peaceful protest,” said […]

Myanmar Buddhist finds Christ after fleeing conflict

When Buddhist San Shwe Mya’s uncle, a Christian, tried to speak about Jesus Christ, he was annoyed and paid little attention. “I told my uncle he couldn’t persuade me to convert to Christianity as I had no interest in it,” San Shwe recalled. Living in a remote village in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state, work was the first […]

Prevent Sri Lanka becoming failed state: Bishops

As Sri Lanka continues to sink hopelessly into the worst economic crisis in memory, the country’s Catholic Bishops are calling for unity among politicians to save the nation from becoming a failed state. The country of some 22 million is facing its worst economic nightmare since its independence, with foreign exchange reserves falling abysmally by […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica