Two improvised explosive devices were thrown at the country's main Catholic cathedral; one landed inside but did not explode. Police have opened an investigation, but the motive behind the attack is still unknown. The attack came on the eve of an important meeting with approximately 600 worshippers. Worshippers and residents living near the cathedral are very concerned.
The Minister of Home Affairs has announced firm measures to prevent attacks or clashes amid “growing global tensions” caused by the war in Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He met with the Jewish community at the Chesed-El Synagogue and confirmed the much-debated “Friends of Israel Annual Aliyah Gala Dinner.” However, the funds raised will not go to the settlers.
The place of worship, dedicated to St Joseph, is located in the village of Munpi, a remote area in the Singngat region. A Catholic couple from Goa made a significant contribution to its construction. The inauguration was presided over by the Archbishop Emeritus of Imphal. For the prelate, the church ‘will contribute to their healing, their relief and their sense of stability’.
Eight officers suspended from duty in Kathua district: they stood by and watched during an attack by Hindu fundamentalists on a minibus carrying participants in a Christian initiative. Behind the ‘anti-conversion’ initiative is the local BJP leader, already reported for other acts of violence.
For more than a year, a shipment of Tamil translations of the Islamic holy text from a Saudi foundation has been blocked in a container. The detention was reportedly requested by an official from the Ministry of Defence. Muslim MPs: ‘Discrimination on religious and linguistic grounds’.
The 2021 legislation, which imposes up to 10 years for converting to another faith, has come under scrutiny. Some of the law’s provisions violate personal rights and privacy. For the bishop of Lucknow, the rulings are a “welcome relief and a sign of hope for the Christian community”, but all "unconstitutional" provisions must be struck down.
It is one of the oldest places of worship on the Arabian Peninsula and is a ‘symbol of faith, history and devotion that attracts the faithful’ from all over the region. Consecrated in 1940, on 8 November it will celebrate an event considered a ‘milestone’ for Catholics in the Gulf. A rector will be appointed to preserve and promote its ‘historical dignity’ and ‘spiritual character’.
From 20 to 24 October, the 18th edition of the Mspc is taking place in Iligan City, under the theme ‘pilgrims of hope’. An opportunity for prayer and reflection on the challenges of a region with a large Muslim and tribal population. Among the unresolved problems are poverty, unemployment and terrorism.
Work has been completed on the Maryam-e Moghaddas metro station, located near the Armenian Church of Saint Sarkis. In addition to ornamental elements evoking Christian symbolism and connecting it to Muslim tradition, there will also be a 2.5-metre statue of the Virgin Mary. The Latin Archbishop hopes that everyone may recognise in her that “God comes to meet His creation – men and women from around the world, brothers and sisters of a common house”.
In the context of fierce opposition to Prime Minister Pašinyan's policies, Bishop Mkrtič, head of the eparchy of Aragatsotn, was also arrested, along with six diocesan priests. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the first to openly oppose the head of government, has been in prison since June. Lawyers for the Armenian Apostolic Church: serious violation of the law.
Scores of members have been arrested in at least six cities in what ChinaAid calls "the most extensive and coordinated wave of persecution” in the last 40 years against underground Evangelical communities. Rev Jin Mingri was also arrested. A former Tiananmen Square protester, he founded the Zion Church, reportedly numbering thousands of members. The accused were charged with illegal use of information networks just days after Xi Jinping stressed the need to “accelerate the sinicisation of religions”.
Receiving in audience the Aid to the Church in Need International, the pontiff cited Pope Francis who, in his last message to the world, stressed the link between this fundamental right and peace. For Leo, “we do not abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters.” Even small and vulnerable communities can be bearers of brotherhood, showing “that a different world is possible”.
Choosing a country that wants to return to being a model of pluralism is a “significant” step said Marwan Sehnaoui, president of the Order of Malta in Lebanon, speaking to AsiaNews. The visit will also include a meeting on Muslim-Christian dialogue. All leading government officials, including President Aoun, a Christian, and Parliamentary Speaker Nabib Berri, welcome the announcement of the visit, which will fulfil the late pope Francis’s wish to visit Lebanon.
The CCIDE and NCJP Pakistan are behind the initiative that brought together students, activists, as well as Muslim, Christian, Hindus, Sikh, and Parsi leaders. The nation's founder and the values of tolerance and freedom of worship were stressed. True change lies in translating the values of understanding, love, respect, and peace into concrete action.
A court has upheld decades of prison sentences for five defendants. Their ‘crime’ was participating in house church services, taking online courses on faith and attending training courses abroad (Turkey). On 7 October, another trial for blasphemy. In August, state television broadcast a propaganda documentary featuring forced confessions by converts.
The killings took place yesterday in Anaz, a village in western Homs. Gunmen on motorbikes fired at least 30 bullets before fleeing. The motive behind the attack remains unknown. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, one of the victims had been involved in a legal case, but had been acquitted after the court found the charges against him to be baseless. The case had been brought by people from Al-Hosn, a neighbouring village where the perpetrators of the crime fled to.
For the Jewish leader, a leading figure in relations with Christians and Muslims, the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi is a "natural partner" to develop point 18 of the US plan to end the war in Gaza. “Such a clause already appears in the Abraham Accords, but nothing was implemented,” he said. For him, everyone is “blessed by the presence of as very wise as well as deeply spiritual Latin Patriarch (Pierbattista Pizzaballa) who understands the fears and aspirations of the different sides of conflict.”
On two occasions, dozens of extremists interrupted Sunday prayers at a Protestant community. The attackers claimed that the shop-house did not have the necessary permits to be used as a house church. Controversy erupted online, with calls for freedom of worship. Once again, urban planning practices were used as a pretext to prevent Christians from praying.
The 42-year-old blogger and lawyer who was jailed for reporting on the pandemic in Wuhan will spend more time behind bars for “causing a public disturbance”. Her "crime" was attempting to meet and defend a trade unionist in Gansu. Friends and supporters highlight the deep Christian faith that inspires her courage.
Behind the controversy is a demand from Muslim leaders and movements to revoke the government circular regarding the hiring of music teachers in public primary schools. They call it an "Islamophobic" decision. Civil society groups are up in arms, defending the secular nature of the schools. The clash reflects the deep tensions between those who support Sharia (Islamic law) and those who defend the constitution.
The Department of Religious Affairs has issued a new Internet code of conduct for priests and ministers of other faiths, who “must not engage in online activities as such”. The crackdown on educational initiatives for children has also been extended to the web with a ban on organising online religious training. Fundraisers to support places of worship or activities are out. Only the websites of authorised religious denominations are allowed.
The incident took place in the Churachandpur district. The attack occurred just over 24 hours after the Prime Minister's visit to the area, which has been the scene of sectarian violence. The target was the home of Khenthang Calvin, a member of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), which signed a ceasefire agreement with Delhi. A second attack (unsuccessful) targeted the residence of Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC).
An extraordinary general assembly is set for tomorrow morning. Abbot Damianos resigned recently following internal tensions and a clash with Patriarch Theophilos III. In the past few months, the historic building was the subject of a (contested) expropriation order by Egyptian authorities.
The Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue visited Bangladesh for a week to meet with religious leaders, government officials and members of the community. The President of the Supreme Court called for overcoming religious, gender and racial divisions in order to achieve a peaceful and inclusive society. The cardinal's homily focused on humility and the dangers of pride.
Vicar General Naaman's golden cross, keys, phone, and other personal belongings were taken. Two men claiming to be members of a security service attacked and injured him. Activists speak out against the country's new leaders, who are incapable of protecting minorities. In Idlib, the Church of Saint Anna reopens after 14 years.
Shamraiz Masih, 14, was cajoled and abducted. His mother, Rehana Imran, report the matter to the police, but the officers showed only apathy and disinterest. The court placed the child in custody with distant Muslim relatives. “This is not an isolated case,” says an activist.
China continues to violate the rights and abuse Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the western region. Victims' families are silenced and threatened. Those waiting for the return of a relative from detention centres tell their stories. For Brooks, Amnesty’s China Director, “lives have been destroyed, families separated, and communities dismantled by the Chinese authorities’ continuing cruelty.”
A study published by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) finds a significant increase in the importance of religion compared to similar surveys in 2013 and 2018, but it is taking on "individualised and digital" connotations. Places of worship are losing their central role, while the use of online platforms to reach the faithful is growing.
The Maronite patriarch said that the pontiff is expected by “December”. This visit could be part of the trip to Nicaea, in the footsteps of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. The Holy See has not provided any official information. A cautious approach prevails due to tensions in the southern Lebanon (one death today) and the controversy over Hezbollah's demilitarisation.
Speaking to the State Duma Committee on Development of Civil Society, Issues of Public Associations and Religious Organisations, Abbess Xenia, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's legal department, said that the most fervent senior officers and generals who adhere to traditional religions should be promoted to command positions in the military. She also called for an explicit ban on “atheism”, deemed “unworthy and immoral”, diametrically reversing the principles of Soviet censorship against religion.
