Bishops in Britain have insisted that a proposed new immigration bill will “drastically alter opportunities” for migrants to “build their lives and contribute to society”. In a joint statement sent to opposition party leaders at Westminster, bishops from Scotland and England and Wales encouraged the British government to consider amendments to the Immigration Bill currently…
Catholics in China are concerned about a directive from the country’s Communist government asking priests to “preach on patriotism” as a condition for reopening liturgical services. The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and the Chinese Catholic educational administration committee of Zhejiang province jointly issued a notice on the resumption of activities. “Religious places that meet…
A Church leader in Hong Kong has urged people to continue resisting Communist repression from China after thousands defied the city administration’s ban on remembering the Tiananmen Square victims. Some churches in the region marked the June 4 anniversary with Masses and prayers in memory of the young people who were crushed in the 1989…
The Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham, England has experienced the “biggest pilgrimage season” in its history, according to the shrine’s rector. The shrine, established by the noblewoman Richeldis de Faverches after she experienced a series of Marian apparitions in 1061, was forced to close and cancel pilgrimages due to the Covid-19 pandemic.…
The archdioceses of Jakarta and Samarinda have reopened their churches after local authorities began to ease social restrictions imposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. “Religious activities may resume starting,” said Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in a live-streamed press conference last week. “All churches can be reopened but only for regular activities…all places of worship must…
Vatican Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary reopens The Vatican’s Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary has reopened after being forced to shut down for more than two and a half months due to the Covid-19 crisis. Despite the pandemic still being present at large, the Dispensary in the heart of the Vatican re-started its services for needy children…
Indian priest and director to release new film A priest and film director in India is to release a new film of someone living with HIV and their family. Michael’s Coffee House, by Fr Anil Philip, will soon be released in Indian cinemas. Fr Philip, a member of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate (CMI), based…
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…