Chinese Catholics provide food to Covid-19 hit Flippinos
More than €75,000 was collected by Catholics in China and donated to the Philippines to buy rice and other food for the poor in Manila.
Many of those in the slum area of the city are jobless, with no income and hungry due to a government-imposed lockdown to contain the coronavirus (Covid-19).
“They need food more than masks,” said Fr Joseph Leo, director of Church-run Radio Veritas Asia, who added that 45,000 kilos of rice was distributed to about 4,000 families.
Donations came from the Diocese of Wenzhou, Catholics in Guangzhou, Tianjin and Fujian, as well as from individual priests, nuns and parishioners.
Pakistan bishops keep churches closed for now
Bishops and pastors in Pakistan have voluntarily agreed to not open churches until after the coronavirus pandemic passes.
Following a meeting last week, the country’s minority affairs minister Ejaz Aslam said it was “a unanimous decision by all our bishops”.
The minister also requested people to refrain from gathering on rooftops to pray and adhere to the Section 144 order, which bars the assembly of more than four people.
“Following the Bible, we have to obey our government and their directives,” said Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore of the directive.
Outbreak offers chance for peace, says Yemen bishop
A bishop in Yemen claims the Covid-19 spread may paradoxically have a “positive effect” on easing the conflict in the country.
Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of southern Arabia (which includes United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen), said Saudi Arabia’s offer of a ceasefire due to coronavirus concerns could facilitate truce talks.
“The present pandemic and its horrifying risks also for Yemen may bring people of all involved parties to reason,” he said. “Thus, the coronavirus could have indirectly a positive effect.”
An estimated 100,000 people have died in the five years of conflict.
Mexico bishops launch mobile app for country’s Faithful
The Bishops of Mexico have launched a new mobile application in order to help the Faithful in the country stay “closer” to God during this time of crisis.
The free ‘Appostolica’ app, which was created by the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), is designed to “to unite the people of God around the pillars of our Faith” by providing Biblical resources.
Through the app, the CEM hope many people will “manage to stay in touch” with the Church through “modern information technologies”.
Mexican bishops say this first version of the app, which can be downloaded at appostolica.com, will improve with future updates.
Ghana bishops warn businesses ‘don’t exploit in pandemic’
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Ghana has asked businesses in the country not to take advantage of the Covid-19 crisis by exploiting its citizens.
“This is not the time to make more money but to go to help the needy and suffering,” said Archbishop Philip Naameh of Tamale last week.
“For each person, believer or non-believer, this is a good way to understand the value of brotherhood, and of being linked to one another in a indissoluble way.”
The bishops, along with other religious and political leaders, met with Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo as they looked to unite all Ghananians in the war against the virus.
