06/19/2013KOREA Korea, a new cathedral on the border to reconcile Seoul and Pyongyang by Joseph Yun Li-sun The Church will be inaugurated by Card. Cheong and dedicated to "forgiveness and atonement." Inside mosaics portraying the Christian martyrs, by artists from the north. The Archbishop Emeritus of Seoul: "The building represents the desire for peace, unity and reconciliation that animates the Korean people." Seoul (AsiaNews) -
A new cathedral dedicated to forgiveness and atonement will be inaugurated on
June 25 on the border separating the two Koreas, on the occasion of the celebrations
to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended the war that...
06/19/2013PALESTINE Gaza: Hamas imposes Islamisation on schools, endangering Catholic institutions As of September, mixed classes will be banned for students over the age of ten. Even teachers will be strictly divided according to gender in order not to violate Sharia. The Church currently runs three schools with almost a thousand students, mostly Muslims. For the bishop of Jerusalem, "We have two alternatives: put pressure on the government or close."
06/19/2013PHILIPPINES St. Pedro Calungsod, the young martyr that Filipinos will bring to Rio Missionary and catechist, he was assassinated at 18 years of age on the island of Guam in 1672 and canonized by Benedict XVI in 2012. At the World Youth Day, a group of pilgrims from his hometown will present the saint to young people around the world.
06/19/2013NEPAL - INDIA Floods, Nepal and India send army to rescue victims by Kalpit Parajuli At least 130 victims and 100 thousand pilgrims blocked. Houses, roads and bridges swept away by the mud. The most serious damage to the Indian state of Uttarkhand. Kathmandu unlocks 10 million rupees (about 79,500 Euros) for relief operations.
06/18/2013THAILAND Bangkok: Catholic physician calls for organ donations to help medicine by Weena Kowitwanij A neurosurgeon at Mahidol University also pleads with people to leave their bodies for medical research after death. The aim is to improve students' practical skills in surgery and ensure the growth of the medical industry. In Asia, practical and cultural factors prevent significant blood and organ donations.
06/18/2013LEBANON - SYRIA Beirut: appeal for Catholic-Orthodox unity and an end to the war in Syria The synods of the Melkite Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches got underway today in Lebanon. As the bishops pray for Mgrs Bouls Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim, abducted on 22 April, Gregory III Laham, patriarch of Antioch, criticises the Western decision to send weapons to the rebels. For the bishops, Christians in Syria and Lebanon have a duty to bear witness to the Gospel with their lives. This is the true "political action" and duty that every believer must undertake. The Melkite Church plans to set up a solidarity committee in Syria to help the needy and rebuild destroyed or damaged churches.
06/18/2013PAKISTAN Punjab: young Christian dies under torture in police custody with 22 broken bones by Jibran Khan Irfan Masih was arrested on 8 June suspected of a murder he did not commit. For days, he was subjected to abuse in order to extort a confession. He died on Sunday from the serious injuries he suffered. "So what if he died? So many die anyway every day," a police officer said. Human rights activists call for justice, whilst the victim's family is in hiding for fear of reprisals.
06/18/2013VATICAN Pope: in loving our enemy we become "poorer", like Jesus, who made himself poor for us To be able to love our enemies we must pray. Pray for them, and say to God: "Change their heart. They have a heart of stone, but change it, give them a heart of flesh, that feels good and love." And for us too, "so that the Lord teaches us this wisdom which is so hard, but so beautiful, because it makes us look like the Father and like the Son."
06/18/2013INDIA - CAMEROON From mission territory to a territory of missionaries: India goes to Africa by Piero Gheddo Even if persecuted, the Church in India continues to grow: more than 2500 priests and 6 thousand nuns are abroad. The experience of Fr. Sleeva, a PIME Indian missionary in Cameroon since 2009. Comparing the two different civilizations the need to export the Indian model of the family to Africa emerges, because "there is a lot of love here, but little opportunity to express it."
06/18/2013JAPAN - VATICAN Church honours Dr Yamaura, translator of 'Bibles of hope' Apostolic Nuncio Mgr Chennoth gave him the 'Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice' medal, an award given to laity and clergy who distinguished themselves in the service of the Church. One of his achievements was the translation of the Gospel into the Kesen dialect. He also offered the Catholic faith as a response to the Fukushima tragedy.
06/18/2013CHINA China, the domestic market for ivory endangers the survival of elephants One-tenth of elephants on the planet killed last year. Despite the international ban on the ivory trade, the sale of "white gold" in China is lawful and widespread. A researcher: "The species is at risk, Beijing must recognize the problem."
06/18/2013VIETNAM - VATICAN Vietnamese Catholics celebrate new auxiliary bishops in Vinh and Hung Hoa by Paul N. Hung Prayers and celebrations welcome Pope Francis's decision to appoint Fr Alphonse Nguyen Huu Long and Fr Pierre Nguyen Van Vien. The first is an expert in canon law who served as rector of the major seminary in Hue; the second holds a doctorate in theology and was vicar general in the same diocese.
06/18/2013EGYPT - ISLAM Islamists' long reach over Egypt as suspected terrorist is appointed Luxor governor President Morsi appoints 17 new provincial governors. Seven are from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood. Protests break out in Luxor, Ismailia, Gharbiya and Menoufiya, Mubarak's birthplace. 'The Rebels' pro-democracy movement "collects 13 million signatures to undercut Morsi's legitimacy.
06/18/2013AFGHANISTAN Kabul, attack on the Vice-President: three dead The attack took place this morning, a few hours after the official announcement of the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. Mohammad Mohaqeq, vice-president and Hazara minority leader was unhurt. Three members of his entourage were killed. Catholic source: "The handover will be very hard."
06/18/2013INDIA Floods in India: more than 65 dead and 60 thousand people trapped by mud The most affected areas are Uttarkhand (40 victims) and Uttar Pradesh (18), in the north of the country. Tens of thousands of pilgrims blocked. Heavy rains will continue for at least two days, flooding of the Ganges feared.
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