Asian

Chinese Catholics barricade themselves to stop church demolition

Priests and parishioners have barricaded themselves in a Catholic church in the Chinese province of Hebei. According to reports, the Catholics are attempting to prevent the Chinese government from tearing down the Church. The protest began at 6am on Oct 31 morning at the church in Wu Gao Zhang, part of the Guantao district of […]

Great joy and expectation in Thailand for Pope’s visit

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Thailand from 20 to 23 November, after which he proceeds to Japan, 23 to 26 November, before returning to Rome. This will be the second visit of a Pontiff to Thailand in over 35 years, after that of Pope Saint John Paul II in 1984. The motto of the […]

Hong Kong bishop reminds people that all involved in protests are human

As demonstrations pitting pro-government groups against pro-democracy protesters continue, a bishop urged Catholics to pray for the realization that all are humans and not “cockroaches or dogs.” Ucanews.org reported Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chishing of Hong Kong addressed a prayer gathering of some 300 people on Oct. 26 at Chater Garden in the Chinese-administered city […]

Singapore nun among 100 ‘inspiring’ global women

An 81-year-old Catholic nun, who served as a prison counsellor in Singapore for four decades, has been named on this year’s BBC list of 100 influential and inspiring global women. Good Shepherd Sister Gerard Fernandez, who led the Catholic Church’s prison ministry in the island nation, has been named by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as […]

Philippine bishop says child workers face dangerous conditions

A Catholic bishop in the Philippines said an increasing number of child workers are exposed to dangerous working conditions. Ucanews.org reported that Bishop Roberto Mallari of San Jose, chairman of the bishops’ Commission on Catechism and Catholic Education, said the situation was alarming and sad. “The root of this sad reality is poverty and lack of […]

Reading Bible may become mandatory in Philippine schools

A Philippine legislator has filed a bill in Congress to make the reading of the Bible mandatory in the country’s public schools. House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr., a pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries, noted that Filipinos seem not to have truly appreciated the “relevance, importance and power” of the Bible. […]

Lahore archbishop urges Pakistan, India to dialogue for peace

A Catholic bishop of Pakistan has expressed concern over the confrontation between Pakistan and India over the disputed region of Kashmir and wishes the leaders of both the nuclear-armed nations take on the path of dialogue to save humanity. “Atomic weapons will never be needed or used if world leaders remain firm in their commitment […]

Philippines to host world’s tallest Marian statue

The tallest statue of the Virgin Mary in the world is about to be ready in the Philippines. Almost 100 meters (315 feet) high, the statue is expected to be ready in 2021, in time for the 500th anniversary of Christianity’s arrival in the Philippines The Marian monument-sculpture-shrine of The Mother of All Asia, also […]

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

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India