Several church buildings—between 13 and 17, according to sources—have been attacked and hundreds of Christian homes destroyed after extremists went on the rampage in Pakistan. Christians from the city of Jaranwala, near Faisalabad, in the Punjab region, fled en masse as extremists began throwing rocks and stones and setting fire to buildings. The incident follows …
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A Catholic archbishop in northeast India, who has seen his diocese at the centre of a wave of deadly attacks, has issued an urgent appeal for prayers “to transform the minds of the people who are led by hatred and religious violence”. In a letter to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Archbishop Dominic …
Continue reading “India, Manipur – Pray for an end to the suffering!”
Even leaders of the Hindu nationalist party are beginning to accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of complicity in what has become a widespread attack on Christians. Aid to the Church in Need (CAN) continues to monitor the situation closely. (Photo: A Catholic village burned down by a mob). The situation in the State of …
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A vehicle for an extensive parish The island nation of Indonesia comprises over 17,000 separate islands, over 6,000 of which are inhabited. Geographically speaking, most of them are part of Asia, though some are part of Australasia. With over 273 million inhabitants, Indonesia is the most populated Muslim nation in the world. However, the religious …
The Catholic Church in Pakistan has condemned the act and says it stands in solidarity with Muslims, calling on Sweden to ensure respect for all religions in society, as the Pakistani Government expressed concern for the security of Church buildings in the country. Christian organizations all over the world have condemned the desecration of the …
Continue reading “Pakistan – Christians put in danger by the desecration of the Quran in Sweden”
Religiously, Pakistan is a diverse country. In many respects, Christians are second-class citizens in this country, with a population that is 95 percent Muslim. They face discrimination, kidnappings, and forced conversions to Islam, and anyone who “defiles” the Quran or insults Muhammad can face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Yet the country also has …
Continue reading “Pakistan – Defender of religious freedom single-handedly stops mob”
Myanmar: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls for prayers for new bishop of Kayah State International charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls for prayers on the occasion of the episcopal ordination, on June 29, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, of Msgr. Celso Ba Shwe as bishop of Loikaw, capital …
Aid for the renovation of a convent The Handmaids of Mary, an Indigenous women’s congregation, was founded in 1944 to care for those on the margins of society, in particular the women and children of the disadvantaged ethnic minorities and the Dalits (previously known as the untouchables)—members of the lowest class in society. Today, the …
Local Church sources have little doubt that the clashes that have pitted Hindus against Christians in the state of Manipur are part of a wider agenda to encourage the Hindu base to vote for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in upcoming elections. The fierce clashes that have been going on for weeks in the …
Press Release – For Immediate Release Königstein-Montreal, Wednesday, June 21 – Pontifical Charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has released the latest edition of its Religious Freedom Report (RFR), which reveals that persecution has increased since January 2021, while impunity continues to reign for attackers, including oppressive governments. The RFR has been published …
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