Asia - Pacific News
Anything that threatens Communism is a target, Chinese human rights advocate says
Human rights lawyer and former political prisoner Chen Guangcheng said Wednesday that “anything that threatens Communist power will be a target for... Read more
Catholic bishops add to concerns over Australian religious discrimination bill
The Catholic bishops of Australia are among those who have called for changes to a contentious religious discrimination bill, saying... Read more
Macau diocese angered by government light show on church ruins
A diocese in southern China expressed disappointment this week regarding a patriotic light-show that had been projected on the remains... Read more
New Zealand bishop resigns over 'unacceptable behaviour' with young woman
The Vatican announced Friday that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a bishop in New Zealand, following an investigation... Read more
Australian bishop rejects calls to dismantle seminaries
A Catholic bishop in Australia has dismissed media reports that Church leaders are considering a radical overhaul of priestly formation. Read more
Burmese cardinal laments religious leaders' silence over violence
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon has decried Burma's ongoing violence, and encouraged religious leaders to raise their voices in... Read more
Christian think tank warns of flaws in Australian religious discrimination bill
Freedom for Faith, a Christian legal think tank, expressed concerns last week over unintended consequences of the Australian government's religious... Read more
China marks 70 years of communism and human rights abuses
On Tuesday, the People’s Republic of China marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the country’s communist regime. While... Read more
Amid Hong Kong protests, Beijing cracks down on some Chinese Catholics
The persecution of Catholics in mainland China is increasing after prominent Catholic figures in Hong Kong continue to speak out... Read more
After 15 months, Missionary of Charity accused of child trafficking granted bail
A religious sister with the Missionaries of Charity has been released on bail 25 months after her arrest. She is... Read more
Online Japanese Catholics are looking for a digital shepherd
In the age of mass communication, the Catholic Church is finding previously unimagined opportunities for evangelization – namely, over the... Read more
Pakistani court overturns blasphemy conviction of Muslim man
Pakistan's Supreme Court acquitted a man Wednesday who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2002, saying there was a... Read more
China harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience, human rights group claims
The Chinese government is harvesting organs from religious and ethnic minorities, a human rights organization told the United Nations Human... Read more
Archbishop: NSW abortion legalization ‘a defeat for humanity’
The archbishop of Sydney lamented a controversial new law decriminalizing abortion in New South Wales, and stressed that the Church... Read more
Sex abuse scandal leaves Australian Church, gov’t scrambling for solutions
In the wake of a major clergy sex abuse scandal and the high-profile, controversial trial and conviction of sex abuse... Read more
International reactions to Chinese detention of Muslims remain mixed
As China's detention of Muslims of the country's northwest in re-education camps continues, few countries are openly denouncing the practice... Read more
Amid Philippines polio outbreak, bishop encourages vaccines, education
A Catholic bishop in the Philippines called for a strong response from the government to fight poliovirus, following an announcement... Read more
Doctors' rep warns of lack of safeguards in WA assisted suicide, euthanasia bill
The president of the Australian Medical Association (WA) said last week that a West Australian bill to legalize assisted suicide... Read more
In South Korea, abortion performed on wrong woman by mistake
Police in South Korea are investigating a doctor who mistakenly performed an abortion on the wrong woman in August. Read more
Chinese churches made to replace Ten Commandments with Xi Jinping quotes
Christian churches in China have been ordered to take down displays of the Ten Commandments and replace them with quotes... Read more
