Photo: AFP 
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 widespread conversions in the state.
“The Catholic Church does not promote or propagate religious conversion as claimed by the minister,” said Fr Anthoniraj Thumma, executive secretary of the Federation of Telugu Churches.
“It is a baseless and misleading claim and there is no truth to it.”
Malawi bishops seek improved services for June elections
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has called on the government to make changes to the country’s public service system ahead of the June 23 presidential elections.
In a pastoral letter to the Church in Malawi last week, the bishops said the country suffers from an under-resourced health system, lack of funding in education and lack of unity.
“For a long time we have not put enough resources into the system and what has been put in has been misused,” read their statement.
“The biggest victims of these evils are the poor and vulnerable people.”
Timor-Leste churches resume daily Masses
Timor-Leste has officially reopened churches for daily Eucharistic celebrations after the country’s Covid-19 taskforce reported no new coronavirus cases in the past fortnight.
The government, however, still remains cautious and Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak has extended the nation’s state of emergency to June 26.
“Churches are open only for Masses,” said the country’s bishops in a statement last week.
“Parish priests and parish councils must ensure the faithful wash their hands, wear masks and keep their distance inside churches.”
Fr Emanuel Lelo Talok, parish priest at St Joseph Church in Dili, said: “We pray [sic] that the pandemic will end soon.”
Mozambique bishops denounce Cabo Delgado war
The Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Nampula in the north Mozambique have denounced the violence of jihadist groups in the region.
In a statement, they said the war, which started in October 2017, is spreading and bringing many forms of violence causing great suffering.
“We want to express our closeness and solidarity with all citizens in Cabo Delgado and encourage them to never lose courage and hope in better times,” read the statement.
“The Risen Christ and winner of the forces of sin and death, assures us that hatred, destruction and death do not have the last word, but the victory of life, justice and love.”
Filipino De La Salle Brother awarded Amnesty prize
Amnesty International Philippines has bestowed a human rights defender award on De La Salle Brother Armin Luistro for his work in promoting the rights of vulnerable people.
Bro. Luistro, a former secretary of education during the administration of Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino and current De La Salle University president, was awarded the prize for his dedication in fighting for the people’s right to an education, the rights group said.
The awards are aimed at inspiring more Filipinos who are struggling against injustice to continue fighting for human rights in the country.
