The President of the Pontifical Academy for Life has condemned racism as a “cultural virus” which has spread throughout the world and must be eradicated. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia was commenting on the death of George Floyd, while in police custody in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests throughout the US. “I would compare [racism] to Covid-19,”…
Cardinal Joseph Zen says changes to Hong Kong’s status in China could threaten the religious freedom of Catholics in the region. The legislature of China approved a resolution to impose new “security laws” on its formerly autonomous region Hong Kong on May 28. Cardinal Zen, Bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, worries that the new laws…
A state in Mexico has passed legislation which requires students to receive education supportive of respect for all human life. The new education reform bill of the northern state of Nuevo Leon is meant to foster a “respect for life from conception to natural death” in students. Nuevo Leon’s constitution “recognises, protects and defends the…
The Jakarta Archdiocese has extended its Covid-19 emergency period for a second and indefinite time as the Indonesian government prepares to introduce new measures. The extension from June 1 was taken by the archdiocese a few days after Jakarta authorities decided to extend lockdowns in the capital until June 4 to curb rising Covid-19 cases.…
The Church in the Philippines has opened its doors to help thousands of refugees who fled clashes that erupted in Mindanao during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr. More than 6,000 people fled their homes when armed militants launched concerted attacks on army units, hitting three villages in Maguindanao province with mortar fire. According to…
Pope advances new decrees for Causes of Saints Pope Francis has advanced the causes for canonisation of 12 holy men and women by authorising the publication of decrees recognising various miracles. The Holy Father also extended this action last week to the martyrdom of a missionary in El Salvador and a group of Cistercian monks.…
Indian Catholics reject politician’s ‘baseless’ conversion claim Church leaders and activists have rejected a claim by a member of parliament from India’s Andhra Pradesh alleging that Christian missionaries use money for religious conversion. Raghu Ramkrishna Raju claimed in a television debate last week that Christian missionaries are pumping large sums of money to carry out…
As Pope Francis entrusted China to the Blessed Virgin, police in Hong Kong were firing tear gas and water cannon at protesters rallying against China’s plans to impose a new security law on the territory. The Holy Father imparted a special Apostolic Blessing upon China for the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians at…
More than 88 laureates and children’s rights advocates have called on world leaders to prioritise vulnerable children in the Covid-19 pandemic. Indian Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s foundation Laureates and Leaders for Children has also asked for a US$1 trillion financial package to protect children. “The Catholic Church has always a special place and concern…
The Vatican Museums will reopen on June 1, two days before Italy opens its borders to European visitors after nearly three months of lockdown. Entrance will only be possible via prior reservation to limit the number of people in the museum and stagger entrance times. All visitors will be required to wear a mask, and…