Global Church News
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Government and Christians against US interference in Church reconstruction
Dec 31, 2016
US Congress discusses a law authorizing the supervision of the work of reconstruction of churches and buildings destroyed by Islamic extremists.
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China’s state leader meets Catholic representatives
Dec 31, 2016
A meeting with a Chinese state leader and a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament officially concluded the Ninth National Congress of Catholic Representatives of the government sanctioned open church community on Dec 29.
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Justice and Peace Commission prays for the 43 victims of the Christmas tainted liquor incident
Dec 30, 2016
The National Commission for Justice and Peace of Pakistan (NCJP) has expressed deep sorrow for the death of 43 people, mostly Christians, from tainted homemade liquor at a Christmas party.
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Fear of attacks leads to ban of New Year celebrations in Kathmandu
Dec 30, 2016
Nepali authorities have banned New Year celebrations, including fireworks and concerts, in Kathmandu and surrounding areas, fearful of possible attacks and unrest at mass events.
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Official and underground priests unsatisfied with Assembly and participating Bishops
Dec 30, 2016
The emphasis on "independence" and "autonomy" does not bode well for dialogue between China and the Vatican. The Religious Affairs Bureau asks the Holy See for "flexibility and pragmatism." The Assembly is like a theater in which all the scripts are already written.
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From accuser to accused: Radical Muslim leader charged with insulting Christianity
Dec 30, 2016
Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), has led the charge against the Christian governor of Jakarta for blasphemy. Now the Indonesian Catholic Students Association (PMKRI) has filed charges against him for statements he hade on Christmas Day.
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Wewala parish gifts Christmas food baskets to 139 poor families
Dec 30, 2016
The baskets were handed out on 24 December. The parish, which is part of the Archdiocese of Colombo, is home to 2,500 families. Parishioners chose the beneficiaries, people who find it hard to hide their poverty.
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Politburo members receive Catholic representatives of Ninth Assembly
Dec 30, 2016
Catholic representatives of the Ninth Assembly were received today by Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee.
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Mass graves and evidence of crimes against humanity found in "liberated" Aleppo
Dec 30, 2016
After its liberation from the Jihadi occupation, Aleppo continues to reveal the vicious face of its former occupants who for over four and a half years dominated one part of the city, extracting a high price from civilians held as hostages under their control.
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Old guard and illegitimate bishops dominate the new Catholic Assembly
Dec 29, 2016
Ma Yinglin and Fang Xingyao are re-elected presidents of the Bishops Council and the Patriotic Association, respectively. The principles of independence, autonomy, self-management and sinicisation are extolled. There is no "positive signal" as hoped by the Vatican.



Sunday Reflection
Jesus calls us to be courageous and embrace risks
Reflecting on our Sunday Readings with Fr Andrew Kooi
