Tag: Catholics

Philippines: Islamic group vows to help Catholics with Marawi’s rebuilding

October 2, 2017 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Catholics, Islamic State, Marawi, Maute, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Philippines

The siege of the city of Marawi in Mindanao by Islamists one year ago, displaced many people. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A programme launched by the Catholic Church, aimed at rebuilding the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines after months of fighting between Islamist groups and the military, has received support from the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. According to AsiaNews, the rebel group is . . . Read More

India: Kerala Christians welcome home kidnapped priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil

October 2, 2017 India Catholics, India, Kerala, Kochi, Tom Uzhunnalil

Indian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, recently released from 18 months’ captivity in Yemen, received a rousing welcome as he arrived home to the southern state of Kerala, a Christian stronghold, yesterday morning (1 October). Over a dozen senior political leaders from a range of parties, and dozens of media personnel, . . . Read More

India: cautious response to appointment of first Christian to Modi’s cabinet

September 6, 2017 India Alphons Kannanthanam, Anti-conversion law, BJP, Catholics, India, Jharkhand, Kerala, Narendra Modi

Alphons Kannanthanam was sworn in on 3 September at the Presidential Palace in New Del

Church officials in India’s Christian heartland of Kerala are cautiously optimistic following the appointment of a first Christian MP to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, amid heated political debate. Modi’s past three years at the head of a Hindu nationalist government (the BJP) have seen a rise in radical extremism . . . Read More

‘Pakistan’s Mother Theresa’ honoured with state funeral

August 18, 2017 Pakistan Catholics, Karachi, Pakistan, Sindh

For the first time in the recent history of Pakistan, a Christian, who is actually a German but adopted Pakistan has her homeland, is being honoured with a state funeral. Dr Ruth Pfau, who was 87, died on 10 August. Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, Shahid Abbasi, announced the state funeral . . . Read More

Somaliland closes only Catholic church due to public pressure – it re-opened a week ago after 30 years

August 4, 2017 Somalia Africa, Catholics, Converts, East Africa, Islamic extremism, Migrants, Mogadishu, Somalia, Somaliland

The only Catholic church in Somaliland, East Africa, officially re-opened after three decades on 29 July, has been closed again within a week, due to public pressure. “The issue has created a lot of division … which is not in our national interest… The government has decided to respect the . . . Read More

Eight Baghdad churches close down as Christians still flee Iraq

August 2, 2017 Iraq Baghdad, Catholics, Iraq

The closure of eight churches in Baghdad “represents a symbolic defeat” for the Church in Iraq’s capital city, reports International Christian Concern (ICC). The Catholic churches were closed in May by the Vatican after seven years of falling or no attendance, said the charity which monitors persecution, pointing to three . . . Read More

Vietnam government accused of stealing monks’ land

July 20, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Vietnam

Land belonging to Benedictine monks in central Vietnam has been appropriated by the government, according to Catholic news agency UCAN. Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, said the government has sold Thien An monastery’s land to local and foreign enterprises to help attract investment. At . . . Read More

Nepal: Christian worker shot at Easter says he’s still fearful

July 14, 2017 Nepal Catholics, Hindu Morcha Nepal, Hindu nationalism, Kathmandu, Nepal

Three months ago, on 16 April, Christian worker Santosh Khadka was shot in Kathmandu while he was returning home from an Easter service. Police have not been able to identify the attackers, but local Christians say Khadka was targeted because of his religious-freedom work, as some groups in this young democracy . . . Read More

Church relieved as Yemen confirms kidnapped Indian priest is ‘alive’

July 14, 2017 Yemen Aden, Catholics, Islamic State, Tom Uzhunnalil, Yemen

The Church in India, especially in the southern state of Kerala, is breathing a sign of relief after Yemen confirmed to India’s foreign minister that Catholic missionary Father Tom Uzhunnalil, kidnapped in Yemen in March 2016, is “alive”. “We are thrilled to hear that good news,” Cardinal George Alencherry, Major . . . Read More

Fears of political agenda behind abuse allegation against Indian priest

July 14, 2017 India BJP, Catholics, Crosses, Goa, Jabalpur, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh

Christian leaders in India have voiced concern that a priest accused of abusing a boy may have been framed to undermine the reputation of the local Christian community. Police in the central state of Madhya Pradesh arrested Fr Leo D’Souza, 56, on 10 July after a complaint from the parents . . . Read More

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