Asian

South Korean president turns to Catholic bishops to help fight coronavirus

S. Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is facing increased pressure over some of his policies, hosted a luncheon for Catholic leaders, asking for their cooperation in tackling the COVID-19 coronavirus. “We must overcome the coronavirus (and) we will do our best to overcome the crisis quickly and minimize economic loss,” Moon said during the meeting, […]

Chinese female Jesus worries Baptists in Indian state

Church leaders in north-eastern India’s Nagaland state are concerned about a Chinese Christian cult misleading thousands of their young people with faulty doctrines. The Church of Almighty God, which emerged in China some three decades ago, teaches that a woman named Yang Xiangbin is the second Christ. The cult is “reportedly making inroads into our […]

Archbishop Kondrusiewicz meets a minister; Lukashenko threatens the churches

After several denials, it has been officially confirmed: last August 21 a meeting was held between Yuri Karaev, Belarusian Interior Minister, and the head of the country’s Catholics, Metropolitan Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. The meeting had been requested by the archbishop to assess the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the president and the […]

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 […]

Indian bishops slam terror attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India