“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10) — With these words of Christ as their inspiration, the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ende in Indonesia have issued a Lenten pastoral letter calling for ecological conversion, justice for the poor, and a renewed commitment to Gospel values. The statement, released at the conclusion of their annual synod, invites the faithful to a deeper journey of reflection, repentance, and concrete action amid pressing environmental and social concerns affecting communities in Flores, Lembata, and Denpasar.
Signed by Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD (Ende), along with Bishops Silvester San (Denpasar), Fransiskus Kopong Kung (Larantuka), Siprianus Hormat (Ruteng), Edwaldus Martinus Sedu (Maumere), and Maksimus Regus (Labuan Bajo), the letter speaks with pastoral urgency to the over two million Catholics entrusted to their care—approximately 1.9 million across Flores and Lembata, and 50,000 in Denpasar.
In their message, the bishops express concern over ongoing geothermal energy developments in the region, especially in the mountainous and water-scarce islands of Flores and Lembata. While acknowledging the need for progress, they warn that “unwise exploitation harms the environment, food security, social balance, and cultural sustainability.” They question whether such extractive projects, though presented as beneficial, are instead “endangering the future,” and stress that geothermal development is not suitable for the region’s unique ecological and geographical context.
Rather, they propose alternative energy options—such as solar power—that align more harmoniously with the local environment and with Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’, which calls for integral ecology and care for our common home. “The vision for Flores and Lembata,” the bishops write, “is not one of exploitation, but of sustainable development rooted in the richness of our agricultural, marine, and cultural heritage.”
Young Christian in Pakistan brutally attacked for refusing to convert to Islam
Amid the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, a 22-year-old man was “brutally attacked” on March 22 by his supervisor after refusing to convert to Islam. The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reported the attack, pointing to it as yet another example of “the persistent religious intolerance present in much of Pakistani society.” Of the 208 million inhabitants of the South Asian country, 96.47% are Muslim and 1.9% Christian. The remainder are Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, and members of other local religions. Attacks against Christians in Pakistan intensified in August 2023 after Muslims looted and burned more than 25 churches and at least 85 homes in Jaranwala. The local Church reported that “people are frightened and feeling hopeless.”
This weekend, at the Subhan Paper Mills in Punjab, young Christian Waqas Masih “suffered severe neck injuries” after his supervisor, identified by ACN as “Zohaib,” accused him of desecrating pages of the Quran found in the trash. The attacker was arrested by police and is charged with attempted murder. “I pray for his speedy recovery and for the well-being of his entire family. The attack on Waqas Masih is a harsh reminder of the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan and the urgent need for social change to promote tolerance and protect the rights of all citizens,” Capuchin Franciscan Lazar Aslam, who visited Masih in the hospital, told ACN. “We humbly call on the international community to pray for the victims and their families as well as to raise awareness about the difficult situation for marginalized communities in Pakistan, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights protected,” he added.
South Korea’s worst-ever wildfires kill dozens and displace almost 40,000
The country’s worst-ever wildfires, which engulfed a forest on March 27, have destroyed thousands of homes, infrastructure, places of worship and vehicles. The multiple wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry weather, have been raging across South Korea’s southeastern regions. The government has mobilized thousands of personnel, dozens of helicopters and other equipment to extinguish the blazes, but the wind is hampering their efforts.
Light rain is expected, but meteorologists say it probably won’t help much in extinguishing the blazes.
Amongst the victims is the pilot of a helicopter that crashed during efforts to contain a fire Wednesday and four firefighters and other workers who died earlier after being trapped by fast-moving flames. Authorities, who suspect human error may have caused several of the wildfires, say most of the civilians who died were elderly or people who found it difficult to escape quickly or who even refused orders to evacuate.
In Cheongsong, a Buddhist temple is at risk of burning. In the southeast, two villages, including Puncheon, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around the 14th century, was ordered to evacuate. In Uiseong, about 20 of the 30 structures at the Gounsa temple complex, which was said to have been originally built in the 7th century, have burnt to the ground. Among them were two state-designated “treasures.” The deputy head of the government’s disaster response centre said the wildfires show “the reality of climate crisis that we have yet experienced.”
Thailand bans corporal punishment of minors
Thailand has banned corporal punishment of minors. With this important step, the Southeast Asian country is aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in force since 1990, a source of debate, especially in school and families. Traditionally, the practice was tolerated in many families, and affected a high percentage of children and teenagers. According to the latest survey by the National Statistical Office, published in 2022, 54 per cent of Thais under the age of 14 received some form of physical or psychological punishment at home.
Although down from 75 per cent in 2005, the figure is still too high for UNICEF, which is promoting the total ban of the practice. With the publication of the measure in the Royal Gazette, Thailand became the 68th country in the world to prohibit the use of coercion or violence against minors for disciplinary purposes. UNICEF Thailand welcomed the news, defining the change as a model to follow to ensure the total protection of young people from all forms of violence or exploitation.
At the same time, it stresses the importance of the government backing the ban with adequate educational campaigns, especially directed at families, where the use of force as an educational tool is still widely accepted. This will not be an easy task. In Thailand the traditional idea of family remains strongly ingrained, even when it comes with excessive behaviours. Attempts at reforms have always met with resistance in the country’s military establishment and among nationalist circles who prefer “traditional” values.
It is no coincidence that, back in 2021, during the country’s periodic review, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children reiterated that under international human rights law – the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments – states have an obligation to ban corporal punishment in all areas, including in the family.
Hindus call off rally through Christian villages in eastern India
Government interventions have forced right-wing Hindu activists to call off a march, alleviating fears of an attack on Christian villagers in the eastern Indian state of Chhattis-garh. Christians across the state had been on edge after social media posts last month began mobilizing Hindu activists to march through three Christian villages, to demand the pro-tection of cows and attack Christians thought to be beef eaters. Aadesh Soni, a right-wing Hindu man who was accused of making such violent calls on social media, denied the allegations. But he admitted calling for the march. He told a week ago that the march will occur on March 1. However, Shivam Takur, an asso-ciate of Soni, told on March 3 that they “called off the proposed rally as the government has accepted our demands.”
Dayal among three awarded for promoting religious freedom, civil liberties
John Dayal, a veteran journalist-turned human rights activist, was among three people chosen on March 5 for fighting for the cause of civil liberties and religious freedom. The annual Quaide Milleth Award, established in 2015, is given by the Che-nnai-based Quaide Milleth Educa-tional and Social Trust involved in the advancement of underprivileged sections of society. Church of South India Bishop V Devasahayam of Thoothukudi-Nazareth was in the four-member jury that chose also Navid Hamid and Vipin Kumar Tripathi for this year’s award. Dayal, based in New Delhi, has served as the treasurer of the Editors’ Guild of India and a member of the National Integration Council. The 76-year-old Catholic was the secretary general of the All India Christian Council and president of the All India Catholic Association, the largest association of the Catholic laity in the country. Hamid also was a member of the National Integration Council, formed in 1961 as a group of senior politi-cians and public figures in India to help the federal government address communalism, casteism and regiona-lism and problems. He is a former president of the All India Majilise Mushawarat, an umbrella body of Indian Muslim organizations, and general secretary of Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians.
Church ‘cautious’ about Indian state lifting liquor ban
Church leaders in the Christian-majority Mizoram have reacted cautiously to the government lifting a liquor ban in this state in India’s northeastern region. The state legislature, on March 10, amended the existing prohibition law amid opposition members walking out of the house protesting the change, local media reports said. However, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl said the Church was “not opposing the new bill completely so long as it helps to improve the economic conditions of local people.” The amendment to the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2025, seeks to allow the manufacture and supply of wine and local beer made solely from locally produced agriculture and horticulture products. The amendment, introduced by the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, also proposes to grant special permits to foreign dignitaries and domestic tourists for possession and consumption of India-made liquor. The law, before the amendment, imposed a blanket ban on the sale, manufacture, and consumption of liquor. The previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government enacted it in 2019. Both the ZPM and MNF are indigenous parties rooted in the state, which also has a presence of India’s national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. “I believe the government has promised to use local farm products like grapes, dragon fruit, guava, banana, etc.,” Bp Rotluanga told on March 12. But the Church will be opposed to importing any other liquor products from outside the state, the prelate added. Father Felix Antony, a former public relations officer of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council, said consum-ption of liquor is a taboo, especially among Christians, in the entire region. “So, lifting the ban will have [the] wrong impact, especially on the well-being of families,” he said. The priest said that “as Christians, we oppose the move of the Mizoram government.” The bill faced stiff opposition from the 10 MNF, two BJP, and the lone Congress legislators, who walked out of the house in protest.
Catholics go on penitential pilgrimage in India’s Goa
Thousands of Catholics walked from their parishes in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in western India to the Our Lady of Good Health Church in Sancoale as part of an annual penitential pilgrimage. Father Barry Cardozo, director of the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, said this year being the Jubilee Year of Hope, the annual pilgrimage was themed “Pilgrims of Hope, Let Us Proclaim the Good News.” “A special feature this year was the depiction of the images of the Passion of Christ and scenes showing Christ accompanying people in difficult situations,” he told on March 9. The depictions were created by youth members of different parishes across Goa who participated in large numbers, offering penance and prayers. ”Over 28,000 men and women walked from Neura, Cansaulim, Bambolim, Verna, and Vasco to the Church, considered one of the pious places in Goa,” said Father George Ratos, convenor of the diocesan Lenten Walking Pilgrimage. The pilgrims covered around 15 kilometers on foot from the five designated spots marked for the pilgrimage, the priest told on March 9. “It was a sea of humanity. One had to see it to believe it,” Ratos added. The pilgrimage walk started early morning, around 2 a.m. on March 9, and they reached their destination at 5 a.m. for adoration, followed by the Eucharist, Ratos said.
Indian court stops eviction from Lutheran Church’s leased land
The High Court in India’s Madhya Pradesh state has stopped officials from evicting some 150 Christian families from their homes, built on land the government leased out to their Church 50 years ago. Authorities in Betul district in January initiated the process to evict 151 Christian families and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church after they cancelled the lease, alleging that the Church authorities violated lease conditions by misusing the land. However, the court stopped the eviction move. Until “further order no coercive step shall be taken on the residential properties,” said the court order issued on Mar 7. The copy was made public on Mar 10. Ashok Chowsky, treasurer of the church, said the district authorities cance-lled the lease, accusing the church of violating the lease conditions and erecting commercial structures on the property. He said they built some 21 shops on a piece of land. “But that was after that particular piece of land was made freehold with proper government permissions. So the allegations are baseless,” he said. “The government has no right to cancel the lease deed. It is illegal,” Chowsky told on March 11. The state govern-ment gave some 20 hectares of land to the church for charitable purposes in 1975. The Lutheran Church authorities built a chur-ch, a school, and houses for the church members. On Jan. 3, the district administration cancelled the lease deed of the entire land and served an eviction notice to all Christian families on it.
Catholic prelate slams Indian state over wild animal attacks
A Catholic bishop in sou-thern Indian Kerala state has accused its communists-led go-vernment of inaction after 12 people were killed in wild ani-mal attacks in the past two months. “The [Kerala] state government is not doing enough to restrict wild animals in the forest,” said Bishop John Nelli-kunnel of Idukki diocese in the state. Nellikunnel also joined a protest march convened by the All Kerala Catholic Congress, a laity organization of the Syro-Malabar Church, in Idukki district on March 4. Some 22% of this northern district’s esti-mated one million people are Christians, mostly members of the Eastern rite Church based in Kerala. The farmers want the government to protect their lives and livelihoods from rising attacks by wild animals, parti-cularly elephants, which enter human habitats seeking water and food as forest resources dry up in the four-month-long su-mmer starting in February. “A vast majority of the people living in the periphery of the forests are living in fear, and the government should find a permanent solution to this seri-ous problem,” the prelate said. Nellikunnel said the govern-ment has been ignoring the des-perate pleas of the farmers for years on the pretext of protect-ing wildlife and the environ-ment. “The government should ensure no life is lost due to the human-animal conflict anymo-re,” he said. Nellikunnel said if the government failed to act with urgency, “the diocese will join the farmers in more such protests until their safety is ensured.”