Asia - Pacific News
Syro-Malabar Synod plans office in Rome to foster interchange with Vatican
The Syro-Malabar Church has decided to open an office in Rome to improve communication between the Eastern Catholic Church and... Read more
Vietnamese government grants permit for Marian shrine
The construction of a Marian shrine on a Vietnamese hilltop began this month after government authorities granted the local diocese... Read more
Eastern-rite leaders say Latin-rite bishops suppress their faith traditions
Eastern-rite Catholics of the Syro-Malabar Church, who live in Latin-rite territories, say they face severe challenges in practicing their faith... Read more
Bishop says Parliament made "terrible mistake" in approving same-sex marriage
Canadian Parliament made a “terrible mistake” when it redefined marriage last year, said Bishop Richard Smith of Pembroke, Ont., to... Read more
Canadian bishop encourages boycott of President Clinton
After receiving complaints from across Canada, Bishop Gerard Bergie, is encouraging Catholics to boycott an upcoming fundraiser at which former... Read more
Bandits attack Catholic priest in eastern India
A Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Ranchi, located in eastern India, was seriously wounded Aug. 21st while resisting a... Read more
Delay in execution of terrorists creates questions for Indonesian Catholics facing similar sentence
The execution of three men convicted for their part in the 2002 terrorist bombing of a Bali resort which killed... Read more
Church leaders and families of prisoners appeal for mercy in Indonesia
The intervention of Catholic Church leaders, including the Pope himself, led the Indonesian government to issue a stay of execution... Read more
Indian government official investigates problems of minority Christians
India’s minority Christian community got a hearing last week with a concerned parliamentarian, who was seeking to understand the problems... Read more
Indian Supreme Court says police may arrest anyone accused of proselytization
The Supreme Court of India has issued a ruling which may have serious impact on religious freedom in the country,... Read more
Canadian bishops expect firm words from Pope during upcoming ‘ad limina’ visit
As Canada’s Catholic bishops prepare to travel to Rome next month for their regular “ad limina” visit with Pope Benedict... Read more
Canadian bishops assist in first democratic elections in Congo
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and its international development arm, Development and Peace, sent a five-member delegation to the... Read more
Canadian parliamentarians push for renewed debate on assisted suicide bill
Some Canadian parliamentarians are pushing for a debate in the House of Commons on the legalization of assisted suicide. A... Read more
Asia Youth Day gathers 800, including from mainland China
About 800 young Catholics from 25 countries and regions, mostly in Asia, have gathered for the Fourth Asian Youth Day... Read more
Methodists adopt Catholic-Lutheran declaration on justification
In a historic step on the road toward Christian unity, the World Methodist Conference adopted the Catholic-Lutheran joint declaration on... Read more
Hong Kong diocese launches museum dedicated to early local Church history
The Diocese of Hong last week inaugurated the Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan Heritage Centre, a mini-museum focused on the early... Read more
Bishops of India release official statement condemning terrorist attacks
The Bishops’ Conference of India has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Bombay (Mumbai) in a statement released by the... Read more
Devotion to Divine Mercy of Jesus gains popularity in Asia
Organizers have announced that a Second Asian Convention of Divine Mercy will be held this fall in the Diocese of... Read more
Philippine bishops oppose effort to impeach President Arroyo
In a statement released at the conclusion of their general assembly, the Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expressed its opposition... Read more
Constitutional amendment would ban homosexual “marriage” in the Philippines
In response to a court ruling allowing a transsexual to contract marriage, lawmakers in the Philippine Congress have drafted a... Read more
