Middle East - Africa News

South Africans celebrate launch of Catholic radio station

Sep 15, 2011

The Catholic community in South Africa is celebrating the news that after 11 years, Catholic station Radio Veritas has been... Read more

Fr. Mussie Zerai

Catholic refugee agency calls for end to Sinai hostage situation

Sep 14, 2011

A leading Catholic charity is urging the upcoming Egyptian government to help free several hundred hostages being held captive by... Read more

Msgr. Cosmas Alule, Rector of Alokolum Major Seminary.

Uganda's economic woes threaten to stunt growing seminaries

Aug 31, 2011

Rampant inflation and other severe economic troubles are threatening to close seminaries in Uganda, despite the growing number of priestly... Read more

A rebel fighter grimaces as he receives medical attention for a gun wound to the shoulder at Tripoli Central Hospital on August 25, 2011 in Tripoli, Libya.

Cautious optimism offered for future of Catholics in Libya

Aug 25, 2011

Early evidence suggests that the Catholic Church in Libya may fare no worse under a new rebel-led regime than it... Read more

CNA

Three receive death sentence in Kenya for Irish priest’s murder

Aug 24, 2011

Three men have been sentenced to death for the 2009 murder of Fr. Gerry Roche, an Irish priest working in... Read more

Rebels fire at government troops during street fighting in Libya.

Catholics caught in crossfire as Libyan violence continues

Aug 23, 2011

As Libya's conflict rages on between rebel forces and troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, Catholics in the capital city of... Read more

Archbishop Louis Sako.

Iraqi Christians worry after car bomb hits third Kirkuk church

Aug 16, 2011

By Kevin J. Jones

In less than two weeks, car bomb attacks have hit three churches in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. The... Read more

Women collect water in a region of Ethiopia where CRS has been working on drought mitigation projects since 2003 /

East Africa drought solution runs deep

Aug 9, 2011

Ethiopians remember keenly the devastating losses of the drought in 1984 and the more recent one in 2000. The numerous... Read more

Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, Pakistan /

Pakistan government reshuffle downgrades religious freedom concerns

Aug 9, 2011

The Pakistan government’s new approach to national harmony is a “downgrade” for Christians and others concerned about religious freedom, Bishop... Read more

Left to right:  Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, Chairman Chris Smith and Rep. Don Payne

Witnesses describe Sudan's ethnic cleansing in emergency hearing

Aug 7, 2011

Witnesses told a House of Representatives subcommittee on Aug. 4 that the Sudanese border state of South Kordofan is descending... Read more

Naman Tarcha

Arab expert: Regime change in Syria will be bad for Christians

Aug 5, 2011

One of Rome’s leading experts on Christianity in the Arab world says the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria... Read more

Children in Kenya wait in line for a meal /

Mary’s Meals steps in to help drought stricken Kenya

Aug 4, 2011

Over 6,000 children in drought-stricken east Africa will receive a daily meal from this week onward. It is all thanks... Read more

Archbishop Louis Sako /

Iraqi Catholic church hit with car bomb - 23 injured

Aug 2, 2011

A car bomb attack upon a Catholic church in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk has injured 23 people – two... Read more

CNA

Alleged Catholic kidnap victim decides to stay with Muslim husband

Jul 21, 2011

Farah Hatim, a Catholic Pakistani woman allegedly kidnapped and forced to marry a Muslim man and convert to Islam, has... Read more

Bishop Caesar Mazzolari of South Sudan

South Sudan bishop dies while celebrating Mass

Jul 19, 2011

By Marianne Medlin

Catholics in South Sudan are mourning the loss of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari of Rumbek, who died at the age of... Read more

Dolo Ado camp for Somali refugees in Ethiopia.

Catholic aid agency appeals for help as 10 million face starvation in East Africa

Jul 17, 2011

The U.K.-based Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is appealing to the world on behalf of 10 million East Africans facing... Read more

Celebrations marked the independence of the Republic of South Sudan on July 9, 2011.

African clergy advise quick action on South Sudan's challenges

Jul 11, 2011

By Katherine Veik

African clergy say the Republic of South Sudan, which gained independence on July 9, must take steps to resolve an... Read more

CNA

Vatican spokesman recalls John Paul II’s message to South Sudanese

Jul 9, 2011

On the day the Republic of South Sudan becomes the world’s newest country, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., recalled... Read more

Father Joseph Otto of St. Theresa Parish in Magwi, Southern Sudan says hello to some children. Photo by Karen Kasmauski for CRS

Catholics working for peaceful birth of South Sudan

Jul 8, 2011

By Katherine Veik

Local and international Catholic organizations are working to ensure a peaceful transition to independence for South Sudan on July 9,... Read more

The late Shahbaz Bhatti

Changes to Pakistan’s religious minorities ministry could aid persecutors

Jun 28, 2011

The Pakistan government’s plan to abolish its national Ministry for Religious Minorities risks giving a “green light” to persecution and... Read more