The Vatican has warned Catholics not to participate in events where the alleged Medjugorje visionaries promise apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a letter to the bishops of the United States, dated October, but only coming to light this week, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano insists that “clerics and the faithful are not…

Persecuted Christians around the world should serve as a warning to others to “become better, stronger Christians” a prelate in Iraq has said. In a message to Christians in the Western world, Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Mosul, said that in the role he has held only since January of this…

Fr Raymond Murray welcomes latest revelations

Egypt – The Coptic community has accused security forces of running away as gunmen attacked a church on October 20. According to an eyewitness who was in an office overlooking the main entrance to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Cairo, when a gunman on a motorcycle began firing into a group attending a…

The executive summary of the ACP review of the Murphy Report

Iran – Four Christians have been sentenced to flogging after police discovered them consuming wine during a communion service at their house church. Behzad Taalipasand, Mehdi Reza Omidi, Mehdi Dadkhah and Amir Hatemi will receive 80 lashes each for the offence, despite the constitutional protections supposedly offered to non-Muslim worship in Iran. Commenting on the…

Process ‘loaded against Catholic education’

Brunei – The south-east Asian sultanate has introduced elements of sharia law into its Penal Code. Announcing the introduction, over the next six months, of punishments such as stoning for adultery, hand amputation for thieves, and flogging for a host of misdemeanours, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said: “By the grace of Allah, with the coming into…

President Higgins praised Trócaire on state visit to in El Salvador

Kenya – Christian leaders have vowed to continue to pray at their places of worship despite the recent slaying of two pastors, one of them in his church as he read his Bible. The two killings, in and near to the port city of Mombasa have been blamed on Islamic extremists, and were possibly carried…