The Pakistan Supreme Court on September 25 acquitted a blasphemy accused who was earlier sentenced to death by the trial and high court, after nearly two decades.

The apex court, in its judgment, observed that the prosecution failed to prove the case against the accused, Wajeehul Hassan, who had earlier challenged his conviction, The Express Tribune reported.

Hassan was accused by a lawyer in 1998 for writing blasphemous letters to him.

During the hearing, Justice Sajjad Shah observed that the prosecution had failed to prove that the letters were written by Hassan and dismissed the case.

Church leaders have called on Filipinos never to forget the “horrors” of martial law, which was imposed across the country almost half a century ago. The declaration of martial law by late president Ferdinand Marcos resulted in thousands of human rights abuses.

Amnesty International recorded over 100,000 victims, with at least 70,000 people arrested, 34,000 tortured and 3,240 others killed.

Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon said Filipinos have to be reminded of the atrocities of martial law, adding that there is a “sinister plot… to erase the memory of the darkest period” in Philippine history.

He said “articles should be written… to remind Filipinos, especially the young, of the horrors of martial law imposed by Marcos.”

Retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani of Novaliches said Filipinos should remember how “oppressive and harmful” martial law was to the people. “It bred a culture of subservience and corruption from which we have not recovered,” he said.

The Vatican confirmed on September 13 that Pope Francis will travel to Thailand and Japan in November with stops scheduled in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Pope Francis will visit Thailand on Nov. 20-23 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Vatican Mission to Siam in 1669. The Pope will then travel on Nov. 23-26 to Japan, where the theme of his visit is “Protect all life.” In recent years, the Church has been working in Japan to respond to life issues and protect the most vulnerable. The Holy See Press Office said that the trip’s motto “protect all life” not only applies to respect for all human dignity, but also extends to the environment.

“In Japan today as well there are a pile of problems related to life and peace, in addition to the issues of economy, environment and relations with neighbouring countries. Moreover, recovery from natural catastrophes and nuclear plant accidents remain as persisting problems,” according to the Vatican statement.

The papal trip to Japan has been much anticipated after Pope Francis told journalists in January he was planning to travel to the country. AP reported on Sept. 13 that Pope Francis will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Japanese Emperor Naruhito during his visit to the country. Catholics in Japan make up less than 0.5% of the country’s population. Christianity was first introduced to Japan in the 16th century by Catholic missionaries, most notably St Francis Xavier. In the years that followed the Catholics in Japan suffered many waves of fierce persecutions with hundreds martyred, including 26 canonized saints who were executed by crucifixion in 1597 in Nagasaki.

More than one thousand people attended the civil inauguration ceremony of the new St Francis Xavier Church, Salalah, which is located around ten minutes from the City Centre, Oman, on Sept 7.

Most of the parishioners comprise of Indian and Filipinos migrant Catholics.

The new church, which took around 18 months to complete, has a seating capacity of 600 people, and it also has a balcony with a view to the main altar and a multipurpose hall, thus bringing the total seating capacity of 1000 people.

Dignitaries present at the celebration included the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Francisco Padilla, and His Excellency Ahmed Khamis Masood Al Bahri, Director of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap was responsible for the Catholics in the UAE, Oman and Yemen, and several priests and religious sisters of the Vicariate were also present at the event.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on September 9 welcomed some inter-religious figures from Myanmar at his office in Jakarta, and held a discussion on tolerance, harmony, and situation of interfaith people in both countries.

The event was held through cooperation between the government and the Indonesia Inter-Religious Council (IRC) initiated by Din Syamsuddin, a national Muslim figure.

“The delegations of Myanmar’s inter-religious figures were here to share their views on how Indonesia maintains inter-faith harmony,” Syamsuddin remarked.

According to Syamsuddin, the vice president had highlighted Indonesia’s founding principles of Pancasila and Bhineka Tunggal Ika, an old Javanese termed translated as “Unity in Diversity,” the official national motto of Indonesia.

They have helped people lead a harmonious existence. Furthermore, religious moderation is expected to serve as a reference for other countries home to different religions.

Leader of Myanmar’s delegations Cardinal Charles Bo lauded the meeting and expressed the hope of taking a cue from Indonesia on equality among people of different faiths.

“We have seen a wide body of experience on how this Muslim-majority nation upholds equality without any discrimination,” Cardinal Bo remarked.

For the past two decades, Abdul Rehman has been telling stories of St Thomas the Apostle’s visit to the Sirkaparchaeological site in Punjab province.

“Christian pilgrims, pastors, priests, foreign tourists and students of history are among the top visitors,” said the 47-year-old tour guide. “These also include many Muslims who claim to have had their prayers answered. However none of them will proclaim this publicly.”

According to tradition, St Thomas passed through Taxila on his way to India and preached at the court of King Gondophares. An early third-century Syriac work known as the Acts of Thomas, discovered in 1822 in Syria, says the king gave some money to the saint and ordered him to build a royal palace.

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili as Timor-Leste’s first archbishop, 17 years after the country gained independence.

The announcement was made on Sept. 11 by Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino, apostolic nuncio to Malaysia and Timor-Leste, during a Mass to commemorate the visit by Pope St John Paul II to Dili 30 years ago.

Timor-Leste has three dioces-es — Dili, Baucau and Maliana — with a total population of 1.3 million, of whom 97 percent are Catholics.

“I am proud to inform you that Pope Francis has elevated the status of Dili to an archdiocese,” Archbishop Marino said. “The Pope also has chosen Bishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva as its first archbishop.”

Archbishop Marino said the new archdiocese and archbishop status symbolize the Holy See’s trust in the Timor-Leste Church.

Archbishop da Silva thanked Pope Francis for his trust in the local Church. “Let us use this initiative to unite and consolidate Catholics in Timor-Leste to grow more in faith,” he said.

A Japanese team has launched a massive operation in the wilderness of Nagaland to trace for the mortal remains of Japanese soldiers, who died during the World War-II.

According to a Deccan Herald report, the team of Japan Association for Recovery & Repatriation of War Casualties (JARRWC) has launched this ambitious 10 days search operation.

The report also stated that led by Kazuhiko Furumoto held a meeting with the officials of Nagaland government in Kohima on Sept.11 and requested support and security to the mission.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Nagaland government on Sept 12 stated that the team will first visit villages like Jotsoma, Kigwema and Rusoma in Kohima district.

There is specific information about presence of mortal remains of Japanese war martyrs at these places.

The statement further read: “They will first try to collect information by interviewing informants who could provide vital clues on the location of the remains of the Japanese war martyrs. Besides that, field investigation of burial sites will be done based on the information collected in research activities so as to confirm the burial condition of the remains under the ground by excavating the soil surface at the site where the excavated site will be reburied.”

They will later visit Yikhum village under Wokha district, Chakhabama in Kohima district and Jessami under Phek district.

Communist authorities in mainland China are exerting a clampdown on Christian activities in the country, spreading fear among some church members about their long-term futures.

Dioceses in China have been receiving constant warnings about a prohibition on summer camps and many local churches have been pressured into giving up all related activities. Some church members worry about the impact this will have on church development.

Some dioceses or parishes have routinely organized camps for students every summer vacation, aiming at cultivating their faith. In recent years, however, the authorities have addressed the issue of religious belief among young people, not only banning minors from entering churches but also forbidding churches from even staging summer camps. Two dioceses had organized summer camps in northern China this year but only one was successfully held, while the other had to be cancelled. A member of this diocese, who we can only name as John, told ucanews.com that the first camp was successfully held because church staff invited church members privately. When the diocese openly promoted the second one, however, the government banned it. John said there was no problem if parishes organized camps privately and only publicized them after the event. “It’s alright if the camp is held privately but once it goes public, it isn’t allowed. It must take place in secret,” he said. Another church member told ucanews.com that a diocese also in China’s north planned to organize a summer class at a big parish, but they moved it to a small parish in a rural village for fear of the authorities finding out about it.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law declaring September 8 of every year, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church, a “national special working holiday.”

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the oldest Marian solemnities and one of the principal feasts of the liturgical devotion to the Blessed Mother.

A working holiday means that there will be classes in schools, while offices and other establishments will be open.

It is the second Marian feast to be declared a holiday in the Philippines. In 2017, Duterte declared December 8 a special non-working holiday to mark the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. He paid homage to Mary and described her as “selfless” when she accepted the invitation to be Jesus Christ’s mother “so that the plan of salvation be realized.”

The president, who has been a vocal critic of Catholic leaders, called Mary “the epitome of faith and source of inspiration” for many Christians, especially during challenging times.