South East Asia

The anniversary celebrates the first large gathering of the tradition, where the Buddha gave his first public sermon in front of 1250 monks. The polls speak of a decline in the faithful and a disaffection toward religion. Monks and authorities are looking at the "new generation" to perpetuate the cult.

Pope presented the Pontifical Yearbook and Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae. In 2010, numer of Catholics at 1.196 billion, up by 1.3% over the previous year. Decline in numbers in South America and Europe, rise in Africa and Southeast Asia. Halt in the decline of men religious, but not in women religious.

Growth in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai. The restructuring plan of the sovereign debt in Greece was accepted by 95% of creditors. New loans to Athens for 130 billion euros. Severe problems for the population, but the Greek banks are safe. The IMF is not "pessimistic".

Phra Phaisal Visalia, 55, attended a Catholic high school and graduated in Fine Arts. Initial curiosity in life as a monk transformed in lifestyle choice. Among the points of his teaching, enhancement of land and disasters prevention. Written over 150 books, some dedicated to illness and dying in “serenity”.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has launched a new family planning campaign that includes US$ 50 and free health care for women who terminate their pregnancy. For the Church, which opposes materialism, human life is non-negotiable. Saigon catechist says sex education is needed to speak to young people.

The two, a woman and a young man, are accused of distributing leaflets compiled by Fr. Van Ly, currently in prison, against the Communist Party. The priest denies knowing the woman. In fact, she was condemned for advocating the rights of the Church in Tam Toa (Vinh diocese).

The New People's Army claims responsibility for the murder of a businessman they claim is behind the PIME missionary's murder on 17 October 2011 in Kidapawan. Army says instead that the dead man was an active supporter of the peace campaign underway in North Cotabato province. Speaking to AsiaNews, sources complain about the stalled investigation into the missionary's death.

Sr. Mary Verzosa Pilar is one of the founders of the Philippine-life movement. Working since the '70s with parishes and dioceses to spread the culture of life among young women. The nun has recently won the Mystery of Life Award 2012, of the Archdiocese of Seoul.

Until now, workers did not have any day off in first two years of their contract. For HRW, the reform is important but women employers in the city-state complain that helpers might "abuse" of their new freedom. Work-related stress and depression are up on domestic workers.

The young man studied at a grammar school founded by missionaries and, thanks to a scholarship, enrolled in university to study mathematics. Within months, the diagnosis: brain cancer. A path of suffering and pain, relieved by a soul-searching that led him to baptism. And a great desire to "know Jesus".

Fr Rif'at Bader tells the French foreign minister, who boasted about his country's commitment to Eastern Christians, that the flight of Iraqi Christians is evidence of the contrary. If the West really wants to something for the Middle East (and not only for Christians), it must invest in education, media, health care but especially work on solving the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

A growing number of tribal people are embracing Islam in the province. Priests and missionaries cannot easily reach remote communities and villages, whilst Muslim merchants from Java and South Sulawesi move to the province and, with the pretext of providing goods and services, attract natives.