06/17/2013ISLAM Oasis: with the death of secular humanism, it is time to build new bridges by Bernardo Cervellera On the first day of the Oasis Centre's annual conference, participants hear that secularism and the 'crisis of man'-that of an inward-looking man, stalked by radical environmentalism, man as an animal, a 'monkey'-appear to be at an end. Islamic parties brought to the fore by the Arab spring are failing. As new religious experiences emerge in the Arab world, states try to bring under their bureaucratic control. But, as Benedict XVI put it, faith and reason must engage in dialogue. In Najaf (Iraq), a Council for dialogue between religions has been set up for the purpose of promoting basic universal human rights and full citizenship for all of the country's religious communities. Milan (AsiaNews) - Ca'Granda, once one of Milan's oldest Church-run
hospitals, home since 1958 of the city's Università degli Studi, and scene in 1968
of students'...
06/17/2013SYRIA Massacres by Islamic extremists bolster Bashar al-Assad Ignored for months by Western media, massacres by Islamist brigades have appeared on pro-rebel media with reports on summary executions, Islamic courts and the mass killing of Shias, justified in the name of the hatred against Assad. However, in al Qusair and Aleppo, residents have welcomed the return of the regular army.
06/17/2013IRAN Hopes for a new era in Iran as moderate Rohani wins presidential elections The new president won with over 50% of the vote. The turnout was 72%. Outcome welcomed by the United States, European Union and Gulf monarchies. The hope is that Rohani will put a definite stop to the nuclear ambitions pursued by his predecessor Ahmadinejad. Israeli government skeptical: "The international community must not indulge in dreams."
06/15/2013ISLAM Oasis: benefits and risks of secularization in Muslim-Christian sphere At the annual meeting of the Scientific Committee of the magazine founded by Card. Angelo Scola, testimony from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria. Many personalities from the international academic world present. Discussion focuses on secularization brought about by the "Arab Spring", the fundamentalist fallout and western secularism.
06/14/2013VATICAN - VIETNAM Holy See seeks permanent nuncio in Hanoi, Vietnam wants Catholics "active" in government programmes The 4th round of the Vietnam-Holy See Joint Working Group ended today. Vatican statement does not mention the problems the Church faces in Vietnam. Hanoi expresses "respect" for religious freedom and "encouragement" of different religions that take part in "national construction".
06/14/2013VATICAN - ANGLICAN Pope meets Anglican Primate: together to defend life, social justice and Christians in Syria Francis receives Archbishop Welby. In our history "painful moments", now on the road to unity. And if "have emerged greater difficulties than those that one could imagine," in the theological dialogue there are "cordial relations and everyday coexistence" that allow us to move forward.
06/14/2013SRI LANKA For Sri Lankan bishops, the government must respect Tamils, the country needs unity In a statement addressed to the government, the Bishops' Conference calls for the retention of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which created provincial councils and granted Tamil official language status. Its repeal would be detrimental to northern minorities.
06/14/2013INDIA Anti-Christian fundamentalism breaks out Maharashtra by Nirmala Carvalho Anti-Christian attacks are rare in the State, one of the richest in India, but in recent months, religious hatred has been on the rise. Hindu extremists have in fact tried to stop Christians from building their own places of worship, as well as expel them from their villages, a "growing and worrying trend", according to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
06/14/2013TIBET - CHINA Dalai Lama tells Tibetans self-immolations must stop On the first day of his visit to Australia, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism expresses doubts about the effect of "such drastic actions", reminding everyone that his faith is for life above all else. Speaking to AsiaNews, Tibetan source said that someone inside the Tibetan government in Dharamsala is using "self-immolation as a political tool".
06/14/2013INDONESIA Central Java: fatwa against Catholic schools, "forbidden" to Muslims by Mathias Hariyadi In a "controversial" statement, the local Ulema Council in Tegal said that such schools are haram, "morally unsound." Politics and local authorities have fuelled the controversy for electoral advantage. However, the families of Muslim students have defended the schools, claiming the right to free choice in matters of education.
06/14/2013ISRAEL - PALESTINE Jaffa, Christian cemetery and graves desecrated. Graffiti in Hebrew Some vandals covered the walls and the tombstones in the cemetery Greek-Orthodox in Jaffa with offensive graffiti. The community denounces continuing cases of discrimination by extremist Zionists. Authorities responsible for the climate of tension: they defend settlers instead of Israeli citizens.
06/13/2013IRAQ Chaldean Synod: revitalising the Christian presence in Iraq and freedom for Syrian bishops by p. Albert Zarazeer This is the thrust of the paper that marked the end of the meeting held in Baghdad on 5-10 June. The Fathers call for the creation of a "competent" Christian political class, urging the faithful to be "a bridge between cultures." The Synod also stressed the importance of the ecumenical movement and calls for an "honest dialogue" with the Assyrian Church of the East. It issues special thanks to Pope Francis.
06/13/2013INDONESIA Extremists attack a peaceful Muslim-Christian conference in Surabaya by Mathias Hariyadi Members of the Islamic Defenders Front stopped an interfaith meeting by force. The images caught on video were posted on YouTube. Complicit with the violent protesters, police detain event organisers. Orthodox Christian activist notes the conference had the right permits, bemoans rising intolerance.
06/13/2013SOUTH KOREA The life and martyrdom of Alexius Hwang "should be read in light of his faith" by Joseph Yun Li-sun The Korean Bishops' Conference organised a symposium to analyse the conversion and work of Alexius Hwang Sa-yeong, author of the 'Silk Letter', who is one of the 123 companions of Paul Yun waiting for beatification. AsiaNews continues to present the life and work of these witnesses of Christ.
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