Asian

Catholic media tycoon jailed in Hong Kong

Catholic media tycoon and philanthropist Jimmy Lai has been jailed for 14 months in Hong Kong after being found guilty of unauthorized assembly. He was among nine activists in court on April 16 who were earlier found guilty of charges relating to pro-democracy de-monstrations in the Chinese territory in 2019. Lai, 72, has donated millions […]

China, North Korea ‘worst for religious persecution’

Religious persecution in China and North Korea, restrictions on religious freedom in dozens of countries and the continuing threat of violence at the hands of religious fundamentalists belonging to a variety of faiths all have worsened since 2018, said Aid to the Church in Need, a papal foundation and Catholic charity. The problems “have been […]

Myanmar’s military is waging war on its citizens. Some say it’s time to fight back

From a fenced-off compound close to the Myanmar border in northern Thailand, a rebel leader offers a bleak view of Myanmar’s future, as the country is cleaved apart by a military coup. The possibility of a deepening civil war in Myanmar is “high,” Gen. Yawd Serk said from his administrative base in Chiang Mai province. […]

Bangladesh bishops urge dialogue to solve Myanmar crisis

Catholic bishops in Bangla-desh have denounced deadly violence in Myanmar as scores of people continue to be killed in the crackdown on nationwide anti-coup protests. In a statement issued by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Con-ference of Bangladesh (CBCB), the prelates expressed solidarity with the Myanmar people’s aspirations for an end […]

Anger over ‘sexist’ reporting of women in Pakistan

Rights groups and journalist bodies in Pakistan have conde-mned a daily newspaper for pub-lishing an abusive commentary about participants in an annual women’s march. “Fourteen countries have the highest rape cases of women. The randies [whores] of Aurat March can’t see these non-Muslim countries,” stated the front-page article in Ummat, an Urdu-language newspaper in Karachi. […]

Celebrating 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines

As the pandemic roars on in the Philippines and the world, church organi-zers continue with co-mmemorations marking the 500th year of Chri-stianity in the Southeast Asian country. “It caught us by sur-prise, really,” said Mark Purugganan, a liturgist at Parish of the Holy Sacri-fice in Quezon City just north of the capital Manila. “We already […]

Indonesian cardinal calls for compassion for flood victims

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta has called on Catholics to show compassion to victims of deadly flash floods and landslides that hit the country’s predominantly Catholic province of East Nusa Tenggara last weekend. The disasters, caused by two days of heavy rain due to the Seroja tropical cyclone, hit 12 cities and districts in […]

Pakistani courts reconsider blasphemy penalty cases

Christian human rights groups in Pakistan are urging local courts to reject Sharia punishments for the blasphemy accused in the Muslim majority country. Last week, a Peshawar High Court bench issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan and provincial advocate general over a petition seeking orders for the government to remove the option of […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica