Asian

Cardinal Re claims Cardinal Zen is at odds with John Paul II, Benedict XVI on China

The newly-appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals purportedly sent a letter to cardinals on February 26 claiming that the China-Vatican deal deal represents the minds of St John Paul II and of Benedict XVI, and that Cardinal Zen is mistaken in his opposition to the deal. An Italian text of the letter from Cardinal […]

Korean Christians seek action against virus-spreading sect

Mainstream Christian groups in South Korea have sought action against a neo-Christian sect accused of spreading the coronavirus that has claimed the lives of 54 people in the country. When the virus began to spread in mid-February, authorities traced the infection to people who attended crowded prayer programs of a sect called Shincheonji Church of […]

Sri Lankan cardinal prepared to launch protests

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith says he is ready to launch street protests if Sri Lanka’s government does not bring the culprits behind last year’s Easter bombings to book. He said the administration has not taken action regarding the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed about 300 people, including 40 foreign nationals, and injured at least 500. […]

Pakistan’s PM fails to defend rights of minorities

When Imran Khan took office as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2018, persecuted Christians in the Muslim-majority nation expected a policy change for the better. However, the 67-year-old former cricket captain did not live up to their expectations. On the contrary, violence against Christians continued uninterrupted, allegedly with the tacit support of the establishment. […]

AsiaBibi: ‘Freed Because of Jesus’

Asia Bibi is a Pakistani Catholic woman who was sentenced to death in 2010 for blasphemy against Islam. After more than eight years in prison, she was acquitted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2018. “I was accused because of the name of Jesus and I knew I would be freed because of Jesus,” […]

Pakistani Christian man killed by Muslim landowner for “dirtying well”

A Pakistani Christian man has been tortured to death for washing himself at a well belonging to a Muslim landowner, according to an organisation dedicated to highlighting and opposing persecution of Christians in Pakistan. Saleem Masih, 22, was a labourer from Baguyana village, Kasur District, near Lahore. On 25 February, after unloading a farm vehicle, […]

Chinese campaigns to control Christianity worsened in 2019: Watchdog

The Chinese government’s campaign to develop “religion with Chinese characteristics” has increased persecution of the country’s Christians, the human rights watchdog China Aid has said. A 53-page report released on Feb. 28 by the Texas-based NGO accuses Chinese officials of destroying churches, imposing strict regulations on religion, and encouraging both non-religious people and officially recognized […]

Hong Kong cancels church gatherings, Ash Wednesday liturgy

The threat of spreading the corona virus has forced Catholic officials in Hong Kong to suspend all church programs for the next two weeks and cancel the Ash Wednesday liturgy that marks the beginning of the Lent season. Cardinal John Tong, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, said the “disappointing” decision had been taken “because […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica