Asia - Pacific News

A Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh.

How CRS is helping refugees amid coronavirus

Mar 27, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

There are nearly 700,000 refugees living in close quarters in the world's largest refugee settlements in Bangladesh, making them vulnerable... Read more

A courtyard at the Church of the Nativity stands empty amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus in the Holy Land: How Catholics in the Jerusalem patriarchate are coping

Mar 20, 2020

By Andrea Gagliarducci

As Easter is approaching, the Holy Land is enduring tough times: the sacred sites are shut down because of the... Read more

St Joseph's Primary School in Melbourne, Australia.

Australian bishops keep schools open as churches close

Mar 19, 2020

Catholic schools in Australia will remain open after pressure from the federal government and the intervention of the Archbishop of... Read more

New Zealand Parliament, Aukland.

New Zealand legalizes abortion

Mar 19, 2020

New Zealand’s House of Representatives passed the Abortion Legislation Bill on March 18, legalizing abortion throughout the first 20 weeks... Read more

Cardinal George Pell in the Vatican, 2014.

Analysis: What could happen next for Cardinal Pell

Mar 17, 2020

By Ed Condon

Cardinal George Pell remains in prison, while the seven justices of the Australian High Court consider his petition for special... Read more

Cardinal George Pell arrives at Melbourne County Court on February 27, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia.

Pell awaits decision after final Australian appeal

Mar 11, 2020

Cardinal George Pell remains in prison while the seven justices of the Australian High Court consider his petition for special... Read more

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral in Broome, Australia.

Australian bishop steps aside during Vatican abuse investigation

Mar 11, 2020

Australian Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome has temporarily stepped back from his duties following allegations of historical sexual abuse. The Vatican... Read more

Cemetery outside the Amakusa Christian Museum in Amakusa, Japan.

Amid coronavirus, public Masses suspended in most Japanese dioceses

Mar 11, 2020

More dioceses in Japan have shut down Mass for the coming weeks in response to the ongoing outbreak of the... Read more

Supporters of Cardinal Pell gathered outside the High Court in Canberra, Australia.

Pell’s lawyers make final case in High Court appeal

Mar 10, 2020

The legal team for Cardinal George Pell laid out their case for appeal before Australia’s High Court Wednesday.  Read more

The flags of the People's Republic of China and of Vatican City.

Chinese campaigns to control Christianity worsened in 2019, watchdog says

Mar 10, 2020

The Chinese government’s campaign to develop “religion with Chinese characteristics” has increased persecution of the country’s Christians, the human rights... Read more

Australian Cardinal George Pell is escorted in handcuffs from the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on August 21, 2019.

Pell hearing to begin in Australia’s high court

Mar 10, 2020

Australia’s High Court will hear this week arguments in the final appeal of Cardinal George Pell, who was convicted in... Read more

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo.

'We will take to the streets': Cardinal demands answers over 2019 Easter bombings

Mar 10, 2020

Cardinal Malcom Ranjith of Colombo has said he will lead public protests if the Sri Lankan government fails to produce... Read more

Filipino bishops say abuse of women is an 'affront to God'

Mar 9, 2020

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has highlighted the value of women, noting that abuse of women is “an... Read more

Archbishop asks Indian state government to return Christ statue to cemetery

Mar 6, 2020

The Archbishop of Bangalore decried Wednesday the removal of a statue of Christ from a Christian cemetery. The statue was... Read more

Archbishop Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo. CNA file photo.

Japanese dioceses suspend Masses amid coronavirus epidemic

Mar 4, 2020

Several Japanese dioceses have suspended Masses for several weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus scare across the country.  Read more

The flag of the Philippines.

Bishop encourages peace zones amid Filipino communist rebellion

Mar 4, 2020

After a recent military attack in the southern Philippines, a bishop has called on the government and rebel forces to... Read more

Asia Bibi.

'Freed because of Jesus'- Asia Bibi shares her story

Mar 3, 2020

Asia Bibi is a Pakistani Catholic woman who was sentenced to death in 2010 for blasphemy against Islam.  After more... Read more

Catholic pray outside of a Catholic Church in Nanma, June 2019.

Chinese Catholics pray outside closed churches in Mindong

Mar 2, 2020

New pictures and video appear to show Catholics praying outside of churches closed by the government in the Diocese of... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, speaks at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen invites Cardinal Re to show claimed China documents from Vatican archive

Mar 2, 2020

Cardinal Zen on Sunday responded to the claim of the Dean of the College of Cardinals that Benedict XVI had... Read more

Pedestrians wear surgical masks in Hong Kong following coronavirus outbreak.

Hong Kong Catholics told to look online as Mass cancelled across China

Feb 26, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Diocese of Hong Kong has told Catholics to make use of online resources following the cancellation of Masses in response to the... Read more