02/07/2012SYRIA – EUROPEAN UNION Gregorios III Laham appeals to Europe for compromise in Syria by Fady Noun The Melkite patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, is concerned that Syria has been caught up in a power game between the United States and Russia. He calls on Europe, which has a Mediterranean vocation, to take the initiative to prevent a civil war. Beirut (AsiaNews) – AsiaNews has interviewed Gregorios III Laham, Catholic Melkite patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem for his views on the Syrian crisis and its possible developments for the country’s Christian communities.
The spectre of civil war is upon Syria. How can the country escape such a curse; how can it avoid a downward spiral into hell? Some believe the...
02/07/2012TIBET – CHINA Karmapa Lama tells Tibetans not to lose faith, preserve their life by Ogyen Trinley Dorje, XVII Karmapa Lama Tibetan Buddhism’s third foremost leader tells his fellow believers to have faith in the future and follow the Dalai Lama. As self-immolations continue in Tibet, Beijing uses an iron fist against protest. Local Communist officials are urged to do everything to maintain social stability.
02/07/2012PAKISTAN Pakistani Christians for divorce law that saves women from polygamy by Jibran Khan The National Commission for Justice and Peace and leading Catholic and Protestant religious leaders are among the promoters of changes to the law. Currently, an 1869 law is in place, which is discriminatory towards Christians. The goal is greater protection for women who will be able to settle cases of abuses and polygamy more quickly.
02/07/2012CHINA - GERMANY Guangzhou: Merkel's visit to Msgr. Gan, a way to support the "living Churches " by Paul Hong Although a Protestant, the German Chancellor has for the second time chosen a Catholic bishop to speak of Christianity in China. A very important visit, local sources confide to AsiaNews that "demonstrate the affection and attention of Berlin for our Church."
02/07/2012VIETNAM In Hải Phòng, Caritas helping AIDS children by J.B. Vu Diocesan Caritas last year opened the ‘Thanh Xuân Warm Shelter’, now home to 20 children who contracted HIV/AIDS from their parents. The facility also helps people in remote, poor and mostly non-Catholic communities.
02/07/2012VATICAN Pope: Lent, Christians must be "guardians" of one another Message of Benedict XVI. "Being concerned" for each other means caring for material and spiritual, individual and community, needs overcoming indifference, disinterest, which arise from selfishness, disguised as a semblance of respect for "privacy." "Fraternal correction."
02/07/2012SYRIA Sergey Lavrov in Damascus to "soften" Assad. In Homs, the battle continues After the veto of Russia and China on February 4, diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis intensify. Obama declares that there will not be a Libya style intervention. Belgium, Great Britain and the U.S. close their embassies in Damascus.
02/07/2012CHINA Chen Xi, human rights activist, tortured with cold and frost His wife and daughter permission to visit for a few minutes. The dissident sentenced to 10 years, had blisters due to cold sores on his body and hands. The authorities forbade his wife to send winter clothes.
02/07/2012RUSSIA Anti-Putin demonstration success. Future of "Tsar Vlad" like Gaddafi by Nina Achmatova At least 100 thousand march in Moscow for honest elections and democratic reforms. Victory of Prime Minister in the first round of presidential elections increasingly unlikely. Analysts: Putin might be "buried" within the first two years of new mandate.
02/07/2012INDONESIA West Borneo: festivities for Year of Dragon amid Islamic threats by Mathias Hariyadi Up to a million people took to the streets of Singkawan, to attend celebrations for the Cap Go Meh. In recent days, extremist leaders have shouted slogans against the party, branded as "anti-Islamic". Authorities and police have monitored security, no major accident or collision.
02/06/2012NEPAL More than 16,000 former Maoist fighters going home by Kalpit Parajuli
The closure of former rebel camps is an historic moment for analysts and political leaders. The decision comes after 4,000 fighters had started a protest for losing their allowance. About 9,000 fighters will join the ranks of the armed forces; 7,000 will go back to civilian life and will no longer be members of the Maoist party.
Books
Augusto Colombo. Apostolo dei paria di Piero Gheddo
pp. 320
Matteo Ricci: missione e ragione. Una biografia intellettuale di Gianni Criveller
pp. 132
Bioetica religioni missioni di Buono Giuseppe, Pelosi Patrizia pp. 432
Matteo Ricci e Giulio Aleni, due vite incrociate di Giulio Aleni / (a cura di) Gianni Criveller
pp. 176
Missione Bengala 155 anni del Pime in India e Bangladesh EMI
di Piero Gheddo
pp. 480
La Cina di Mao processa la Chiesa di Angelo S.Lazzarotto pp. 528
Il rovescio delle medaglie di Bernardo Cervellera pp. 240