Civilians in Myanmar (Burma) are seeking shelter in churches following an ultimatum made by the country’s army. The military dropped letters warning residents to leave an area called Tanai, by June 15, or else they would be considered to have links with a rebel army it has been reported. Church social workers have said that…
Martial law in the southern Philippines and security forces’ clashes with a local terrorist group made a mockery of Independence Day celebrations, a bishop based in the Philippines said. “As long as there is martial law and unrest in Marawi City, the ‘independence’ of our nation is a farce,” said Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon.…
Pope Francis has defended the right of women to participate in social, economic and political life in all levels of society. The Pope was speaking to members, consultors and guests of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, which was holding its plenary assembly in Rome last week. Participants discussed the role of women in teaching…
Pope Francis discussed natural disasters, refugees and jobs with the Italian president last week. With recent earthquakes causing havoc in central Italy and large amounts of refugees entering the country from the Middle East the Italian administration have been under intense pressure. There has also been a scramble to create jobs, especially for young people.…
The acidification of oceans will have drastic environmental consequences, speakers told a UN conference last week. Over 3,500 people representing countries, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations attended the conference on sustainable development. Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana said that effective regulations to safeguard the world’s oceans are being blocked by “those who are profiting most…
The Pope has ordered priests in Nigeria to accept the appointment of a new bishop or they will be suspended. Pope Francis has given priests 30 days to send letters promising obedience to him. Anyone who doesn’t will lose their current office. Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke was appointed Bishop of Ahiara by then-Pope Benedict XVI…
There is still work to be done to help the victims of clerical abuse find healing a US report has found. The 14th annual report on diocesan compliance with the US Catholic Church’s “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” shows that Church leaders have taken steps to help many find solace and…
National and international policies leave migrant children at the mercy of traffickers and sexual predators a Vatican official told the UN. Policies that involve criminalising and detaining child migrants “are an insult to human dignity” and are “the dramatic evidence of existing inequalities and failing systems,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican observer to UN agencies…
Calls for a peace treaty between North and South Korea were made last week as the countries are still technically at war. A symposium organised by South Korean bishops saw several speakers calling for a new peace agreement to replace a 64-year-old truce. Hak-jae Kim, a researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies…
Missionaries are entrusted with building bridges with Muslims and protecting human rights, Pope Francis told a group of missionaries this week in the Vatican. In a meeting with the Consolata Missionaries, he said they are also charged with bringing hope to poor Christian communities. Pope Francis encouraged them to push beyond the boundaries of their…