The Catholic Church in Nepal has mobilized to support the victims of the devastating floods that struck the Himalayan country on August 26, sweeping away entire villages and leaving thousands dead or missing. “In some places along the Bhote Koshi River, entire villages have been wiped out. Many houses along the river were swept away. …
Continue reading “Nepal priest: “Our presence among those who are suffering will give them hope””
The Catholic Church is at the forefront of efforts to help victims of the earthquake that struck one of the densest Christian islands of Indonesia. The Indonesian island of Flores was recently struck by a severe earthquake that registered at 7.7 on the Richter scale. The August 15 earthquake caused at least 70 deaths, injured …
Northern Nigeria usually appears in the news because of violence, kidnappings, or interreligious conflicts. However, in the midst of that reality, there are also many experiences of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims. Bishop Gerald Musa, of Katsina Diocese (photo), believes that the greatest challenge is not religious difference, but insecurity and lack of justice, …
Continue reading “Nigeria: “Human life is sacred. There can be no lynching in a civilized society””
To mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, the UN Special Rapporteur has sent a video message to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), highlighting the urgent need to defend freedom of religion or belief for everyone. In the video message sent to Aid to …
This is not the first time a religious community has been violently attacked in the African country, which is still dealing with an insurgency in the north. (Banner photo: On April 30, a historic church was totally destroyed in an attack.) The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Mozambique has denounced an “exponential rise” in …
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As the country sinks into an unprecedented crisis, ravaged by armed gangs, the Church remains standing and sows hope amid despair. The legislative and presidential elections due to be held in Haiti on August 30 – the first since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 – have been postponed until December. But the …
Continue reading “In Haiti, the Church Is the “Last Line of Defence,” says a bishop”
Although relations between the Church and the state have improved over the past century, the bishops denounce the cartels’ “parallel government,” which undermines religious freedom in Mexico. (Banner photo: In 2022, the funeral of Jesuit Fathers Joaquín Mora and Javier Campos, who were allegedly murdered by members of a drug cartel.) The Catholic bishops of …
Continue reading “Mexico: Aid to the Church in Need Joins the Bishops’ Appeal”
Catholic leaders advocate for the right of return of internally displaced people. The return of thousands of displaced Christians to their places of origin in Iraq, supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) following the defeat of Islamic State, could serve as a model for responding to the crisis facing Christian communities in …
Continue reading “The return of Iraq’s Christians: a possible model for Nigeria”
From Spain to the USA, several churches have been vandalized in the past three months. Although the attacks seem unrelated to each other, they show that religious freedom is not to be taken for granted, even in majority Christian countries. The popular European shrine of Medjugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was vandalized and desecrated in …
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The Iraqi government is offering incentives for Christians to return to the country. The prime minister’s words will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of Iraqi Catholic bishops in August. Iraq’s Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has declared the return of Christian families a national priority and pledged to include returnees in a government program that …
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