Asia - Pacific News

The National Shrine of Baclaran, Parañaque, Philippines.

Filipinos are in love with the Virgin Mary, and the Baclaran shrine is proof

Jan 1, 2017

A long-venerated icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help turned 150 last year, and many Filipinos’ Marian devotion has never... Read more

Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.

The curious case of the Lipa Marian apparitions

Dec 28, 2016

By Mary Farrow

The story of Sister Teresita Castillo and the supposed Marian apparitions of Lipa City, Philippines reads something like a mystery... Read more

A rare glimpse into the lives of Thailand's Red Nuns

Dec 27, 2016

An American group of cloistered nuns has opened a new monastery to bring their contemplative spirituality to the northeast of... Read more

Mountains of Papua New Guinea. Courtesy of Fr. Christian Sieland.

Meet the priest who serves the most rural parts of Papua New Guinea

Dec 18, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

In the deep Melanesian jungles, a native Papua New Guinea Catholic priest walks miles through the deep thick forests. He... Read more

Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama (L) meets with the Australian ambassador to Indonesia, March 3, 2016.

In Indonesia, Christian governor rejects blasphemy charge

Dec 16, 2016

The Christian governor of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, could face stiff penalties if convicted of insulting the Quran –... Read more

Drop plans to expand death penalty, bishops ask Philippines

Dec 14, 2016

Catholic prayer and protests greeted proposals to expand the use of the death penalty in the Philippines, with the move... Read more

Doctors warn Australian state against legalizing euthanasia

Dec 8, 2016

The government of the Australian state of Victoria is looking to legalize euthanasia in 2017, but physicians have warned of... Read more

Manila Cathedral.

Terrorist threats may suspend Masses in Philippines capital

Dec 1, 2016

An uptick in terrorist activity may cause Masses and other liturgical celebrations to be suspended in the capital city of... Read more

The site where the Christian couple were lynched at a brick factory in Pakistan's Punjab province in November 2014. Photo courtesy of Legal Evangelical Association Development.

In Pakistan, 13 sentenced over lynching of Christian couple

Nov 30, 2016

Five men in Pakistan's Punjab province were sentenced to death last week for their leading role in the November 2014... Read more

How the Catholic Church in Australia aims to enhance anti-abuse efforts

Nov 29, 2016

In Australia, the Catholic Church has established a new independent non-profit to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse.  Read more

Can South Korean Catholics evangelize Asia?

Nov 10, 2016

Catholics in South Korea have a unique position to evangelize, one scholar says.  Read more

Australia's proposed refugee ban is 'deliberately cruel'

Nov 9, 2016

The Australian government's proposed permanent ban on visas for refugees and asylum seekers who have recently arrived by boat drew... Read more

Bishop Michael Byrnes, who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Hagatna Oct. 31, 2016.

New bishop to lead beleaguered Guam archdiocese

Oct 31, 2016

Pope Francis on Monday appointed Bishop Michael Byrnes as the successor to Guam's archbishop, who has been accused of sexual... Read more

Cardinal Luis tagle.

As drug war darkens, Filipino cardinal sheds light with rehab centers

Oct 25, 2016

As the Philippines' controversial drug war rages on, Catholic parishes are working with local government to provide drug rehab and... Read more

Photo

As Philippines drug war escalates, bishops call for justice

Oct 20, 2016

Amid President Rodrigo Duterte's fierce war against the underworld of drugs in the Philippines, the country's bishops are rallying with... Read more

Women participate in agricultural activities in Pakistan's Sindh province, June 2011.

How a Catholic program helps Pakistan's women farmers

Oct 19, 2016

Women farmers in Pakistan received helping hands recently from Caritas Pakistan, the Catholic bishops’ arm for social development.  Read more

Christian TV networks in Pakistan ordered to close over lack of permits

Oct 13, 2016

By Elise Harris

Several Christian television stations in Pakistan were ordered to stop transmitting last month, after the nation's media regulator found that... Read more

China's 'disgraceful' human rights record gets worse every year

Oct 8, 2016

By Matt Hadro

China’s “utterly disgraceful” human rights record is not just bad, it’s getting worse every year, a new Congressional report has... Read more

Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Amid communist rule, a Catholic university opens in Vietnam

Sep 21, 2016

After 40 years, the first Catholic Church-operated university opened in Vietnam since the advent of communism in the country.  Read more

Police crime tape closes the entrance of Tsukui Yamayuri En care home on July 27, 2016 in Sagamihara, Japan.

Why Japan won't release the names of its knife attack victims

Sep 13, 2016

By Mary Farrow

In late July, the worst mass killing in Japan since World War II left 19 people dead and 26 people... Read more