PAKISTAN - Christianity flourishes in Khushpur, the"Pakistani Vatican" Khushpur is the largest Catholic village in all Pakistan, sometimes jokingly referred to as the "Pakistani Vatican". It is around 25 miles (40 km) south of Faisalabad and was first established in 1902 by Belgian missionaries. At that time there was absolutely nothing here, [...]
SYRIA - “Stop extremists entering Europe” Syrian leader of ancient Eastern-rite Church calls for action to tackle Islamist threat to Europe EUROPE needs to take tougher action to stop fundamentalists entering the region, according to the Syria-based leader of an ancient worldwide Church, who warns of the threat posed by a new [...]
RUSSIA - First Christian leader arrested as new law banning evangelisation takes effect The first Christian leader has been arrested in Russia following the passing of new anti-terrorism laws that ban evangelism outside of churches.Sergei Zhuravlyov, a representative of the Ukrainian Reformed Orthodox Church of Christ the Savior, was arrested recently while [...]
MONGOLIA - First priest ordained in this small Catholic community The small Catholic community of Mongolia had cause for celebration on the occasion of the ordination of Fr Jose Enkh-Baatar, the first priest to be ordained from this region. Celebrating his first Mass on Sunday 28 August, Fr Enkh-Baatar said: [...]
“Middle East Christians feel betrayed by the West” - Patriarch Ignatius Youssef Younan Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch has again issued a strong warning about the future of the region’s Christians, saying “My friends, the very existence of Eastern Churches, those churches that are [...]
PHILIPPINES - “Afraid to go to Mass” "Until recently the Philippines were a paragon of interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims," said Brother Sebastiano D'Ambra, an Italian missionary in Mindanao. "But now people are even afraid to go to Mass."Brother Sebastiano D'Ambra sounds tired when we call him on behalf of Aid [...]
SYRIA - ACN approves more emergency aid to relieve Aleppo crisis The international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has approved a number of further projects aimed at continuing its ongoing support over the next few months for the most needy families in the [...]
5th September 2016 The source of violence and conflict in Nigeria Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos, Nigeria has said that the source of violence and conflicts in Nigeria is rooted in the lack of correctly applying religious values of love and care to fellow citizens even though the nation is [...]
Pope “The Church does not need lukewarm Christians” Pope Frances has some stern words for those who claim to be Christians but do not live their faith The Church does not need “cold or lukewarm Christians” who are held back by fear, said Francis . It needs Christians who are on [...]
CHINA - Clergy banned from visiting hospitals in Zhejiang province In the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang the authorities have banned all kinds of religious activity in Wenzhou's Central Hospital. In a public notice to the patients and their visitors it was announced that "Religious activities are banned in this hospital." [...]