Global Church News

Philippine Bishops speak out over Duterte's anti-drugs campaign

Feb 08, 2017

In their pastoral letter, the Philippine bishops said while there is a drugs problem that needs to be faced, the enormous death toll is unacceptable.
St Josephine Bakhita, former slave, is patron of trafficking victims

Feb 08, 2017

As human trafficking continues to be a supremely important issue during Pope Francis’ pontificate, with an estimated 20 million victims worldwide, St. Josephine Bakhita, enslaved during her own childhood, has emerged as a patron not only for her home country of Sudan, but for all victims of trafficking.
Archbishop of Jakarta: Vote against extremism and violence

Feb 08, 2017

Local elections are set for 15 February in Jakarta, the provinces and regencies in a country where tensions are rising due to campaigns and protests promoted by extremist Muslims. The capital’s Christian governor is one of their target. For Mgr Suharyo, the Church is nonpartisan, but it defends the fundamental values ??of the state.
This surfing school in Chile was created for kids with Down syndrome

Feb 08, 2017

On Sundays, Felipe Pereira is full of enthusiasm. That’s because on Sundays, the 21-year-old goes to Paradise Beach to enjoy the sea along with his friends and to learn how to surf.
Vietnamese Bishops launch the Year of the Family against divorce and marriage crisis

Feb 08, 2017

In 2016 there were over 60,000 divorce cases across the country. The causes of separation are family lifestyle, followed by adultery and violence. The crisis affects mainly young couples. The Church offers prayers and meetings to rebuild the foundational unit of society.
Don't move US embassy to Jerusalem, ask Secretary of State

Feb 08, 2017

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires wise U.S. engagement to build a better future for both peoples, and this future could be endangered by an embassy relocation, the U.S. Catholic bishops told the new Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
Catholic Samurai's beatification in Japan

Feb 07, 2017

A Japanese Catholic Samurai who died in the 17th century in exile, will be declared Blessed during a Mass in Osaka on Tuesday.
Card Tagle in Beirut speaks out against walls and prejudices, calls for listening to real stories, heeding real people

Feb 07, 2017

The President of Caritas Internationalis spoke at a meeting organised by Caritas Lebanon on "preparing the heart". The prelate stressed that the Catholic charity is very different from other NGOs.
Indonesian Catholics denounce death penalty

Feb 07, 2017

Church officials and Catholic families maintain that the Indonesian government's decision to continue imposing the death penalty is ineffective and targets young people vulnerable to the drug trade.
Religious freedom in Vietnam advances slowly

Feb 07, 2017

A new Vietnamese law on belief and religion, ratified in November 2016, will come into force in January 2018.