05/25/2013BANGLADESH Bangladesh, Hindus and Muslims help build Catholic church by Sumon Corraya In Mathbari, a small town near Dhaka, Hindus and Muslims take part in a fundraiser launched by the Catholic community to finance the construction of a church. The pastor: "I am very happy, it is evidence of a good relationship of coexistence." Dhaka (AsiaNews) - A fundraiser
held by the Mathbari parish priest, Dazipu district, for the construction of a
new Catholic church, was also attended by citizens Hindus and Muslims. "Some
non-Christian brothers and sisters have given 7,693 dollars to build a new church - said...
05/24/2013NEPAL - CHINA China's rising transportation costs block trade with Nepal by Kalpit Parajuli Price hikes by Chinese companies cause Nepali traders to halt movement of goods on the road from Khasa to Tatopani. They refuse to pay more.
05/24/2013VATICAN Pope: governments should seek incisive initiatives and new approaches to protect the dignity of refugees In his meeting with members the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Francis spoke about human trafficking, including that of children. "It is despicable, a disgrace to societies that claim to be civilised! Pimps and clients at every level ought to seriously examine their conscience before themselves and before God." As well as welcoming them, the Church should "give a voice to those who cannot cry out their pain and oppression."
05/24/2013VATICAN Pope: May the Lord bless and Our Lady watch over the noble Chinese people Marking the feast of Mary Help of Christians, Day of Prayer for China, Francis speaks of the ”grace” to “bear and overcome external and internal oppression with patience and love. "Praying for your enemies, for those who make us suffer" is not easy. "But we are" defeated Christians "if we do not forgive our enemies and if we do not pray for them.
05/24/2013INDIA Marian devotion overcomes religious barriers in India by Nirmala Carvalho People of all religions flock to Mary, so much so that 80% of the pilgrims to Marian shrines are non-Catholics, including Muslims. On the occasion of the feast of Mary Help of Christians, AsiaNews speaks with an expert in the scriptures, Fr. Errold Fernandes, to understand this phenomenon of interfaith harmony.
05/23/2013VATICAN Pope: bishops should not be career-oriented, interested in money or compromises with the spirit of the world Celebrating the Liturgy of the Word with Italian Bishops, Francis outlines how the pastors of souls ought to be. They must be men capable of "listening to the silent stories of those who suffer, and help those who are afraid of not making it." We must also lift, reassure and inspire hope by leading our "life in accordance with God's plan, and fully commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus. From this, comes the discernment that recognises and takes on the thoughts, expectations, and needs of the people of our times."
05/23/2013SRI LANKA - INDIA Sri Lanka to build new homes for war refugees with Indian support by Melani Manel Perera With the help of the Indian High Commission, the Sri Lankan government continues its three-year plan to re-house IDPs. The Indian High Commissioner and Sri Lanka's Economic Development Minister launch the project, "an unprecedented humanitarian action," in the east of the island.
05/23/2013VATICAN Pope: 'salt' of faith, hope and love gifted us by Jesus must be shared, or Christians risk becoming “a museum piece” There are two “outlets” to prevent this salt from growing stale. Firstly: using this salt “at meals, in the service of others, to serve people". Second, "transcendence toward the author of this salt, the Creator". "Christian originality is not a uniformity! It takes us all as we are, each with our own personality, characteristics, culture and leaves us with that, because it is a treasure. "
05/23/2013NEPAL Catholics, Muslims and Hindus remember the attack on Kathmandu cathedral by Kalpit Parajuli Hundreds of people attended today's Mass in the Church of the Assumption. "Extremist threats do not scare us," clergyman says. "We shall pursue our mission even more." Muslims and Hindus express their solidarity.
05/23/2013AFGHANISTAN Afghan university students protest against women's rights During yesterday's protest in Kabul, protesters called for the repeal of a decree that defines domestic violence as a crime, bans child and forced marriages and says that rape victims cannot be prosecuted for adultery. It also outlaws "ba'ad", the traditional practice of exchanging women or girls to settle disputes or pay debts.
05/23/2013PAKISTAN - CHINA Quetta, 12 people die in an attack on the military. Beijing and Islamabad discuss energy A bomb aboard a rickshaw targets a security forces convoy. The bomb was made up of more than 100 kg of explosives. Meanwhile, the Chinese premier arrives in Pakistan for a two-day official visit. Objective: To strengthen ties, enhance trade and help solve the energy crisis.
05/22/2013NEPAL Nepali Muslim leader killed, community calls it a political murder by Kalpit Parajuli The assassination of the president of National Islamic Struggle Committee threatens to spark renewed sectarian violence. The country's Muslim minority accuses the government of indifference, of failing to deal with the problem of extremist groups. For Muslim Association of Nepal Vice President Mohammad Najimuddi, the killing was politically motivated, demands more security.
05/22/2013VATICAN Pope says no to intolerance, everyone can and must do good, even atheists As he celebrated Mass this morning, Francis said that the possibility of doing good is part of creation, and that Christ redeemed all of us, not only Catholics. Doing good "is a beautiful path towards peace" whilst "killing in the name of God is blasphemy."
05/22/2013VATICAN-CHINA Pope: pray for Chinese Catholics that they may "never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world and the world to Jesus" At the General audience, Francis speaks of the "duty" to evangelize that belongs to every Christian: the Spirit urges us to preach the Good News “courageously, loudly" and to all. Also a prayer "for the victims, especially the children of the disaster in Oklahoma. May the Lord himself console everyone, in particular parents who have lost a child in such a tragic way".
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