Christians persecuted

The vicar of the Latin patriarchate for Israel looks back on his first 16 months as bishop and delves into the tension around the Carmelite monastery. Peace and confessional balance endangered by a sect linked to Hasidism. The escalation degenerated into physical clashes between the parties, the police arrested a Christian leaving the provocateurs unpunished. The visit of President Herzog.

At the general audience, resuming his catechesis on evangelical zeal, Pope Francis reflects on the figure of Juan Diego, the Indian of the Guadalupe apparitions. "To inculturate the Gospel requires perseverance and patience, I think of a country where Christians are persecuted and cannot practice their faith in peace"

The attack with swords, sticks and batons took place on Sunday 20 August, during the prayer service. Protagonists of the raid are over 40 people, belonging to radical Hinduvta movements. Sacred objects and a copy of the Bible desecrated. At the time of the complaint, another 300 people linked to radical factions have carried out a new assault.

Academic delves into the crisis between the cardinal and the president of the Republic following the withdrawal of the patriarchal decree. The cardinal claims the struggle for "freedom and independence." The roots of the current crisis in the phase of the fight against Isis, when armed militias (including Christian ones) develop. Criticism of baseless "politicization" defends homeland and citizens.

The fear after the attacks on churches and homes of Christians for an unlikely accusation of blasphemy. Bishop Rehmat's message from the United States where he was visiting: "Let us pray to God for peace and ask the government of Pakistan for justice". The vicar general Fr. Tanvir: "The arrests and the ban on gatherings come late, the police could have prevented the violence. The blasphemy law should be changed immediately". The president of the Bishops' Conference visited the victims.

In the district of Faisalabad, 21 places of worship and the homes of Christians were devastated by a mob fueled by Islamic extremists. Hundreds of people were forced to flee. The Christian accused of writing outrageous phrases against the Koran is actually an illiterate, The president of the Pakistani bishops Mgr Arsad: "Our people are not safe. A transparent investigation into this violence to re-establish the primacy of law and justice'.

Act of vandalism against the parish of St Gonsalo Garcia. While the police carried out the investigation, people gathered outside the gates to pray. Archbishop Felix Machado: 'I urge everyone to maintain harmony in the neighbourhood and apregate for peace in Indian society.

Iranian authorities began to arrest more than two months ago converts from Islam, but also some Iranian-Armenians. At least 10 are still in jail, while those released have had to pay hefty fines worth thousands of dollars or undergo Islamic re-education. The crackdown comes a few weeks before the first anniversary of the death in custody of the young Kurdish woman.

In Guangxi, Rev Park Guangzhe was held in "administrative detention” for 15 days. In Wenzhou, the campaign to remove crosses from churches starts up again, and now entails removing plaques with references to Jesus as well. As of 1 September, new rules impose further restrictions on religious activity and bans foreign links.

Some 50 young Chinese made it to the WYD, evidence of the Church's care for their country and community, despite difficulties. Yesterday the pope met a group of young Turks from the areas affected by last February’s earthquake. Today he met charity workers and volunteers, praising “concrete” love that “gets its hands dirty".

For the Archeparch of Damascus, the family unit was "united and close-knit". There was "an abundance of vocations." Now it is rare to find an "entire family” with exiled fathers, sick or depressed mothers, and children abroad. From 120 in 2019, today only 37 seminarians are left. For Christians in the Syrian capital, praying at the Shrine of the Martyrs is their Wall of Lamentation.

Human rights groups report that more than 10,000 women and girls have been victims of sexual violence in Pakistan in the first four months of the year, especially among religious or ethnic minorities. The latest cases include a chilling attack against a child in Sahiwal district.