Asia - Pacific News
New Zealand commission finds Church guilty of ‘inadequate’ responses to abuse and neglect
The abuse commission conducted its study over six years. It is notably the most wide-ranging investigation into abuse and neglect... Read more
Led by bishops, Indian Christians mount pressure on government to curb atrocities
Amid ongoing attacks, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has put pressure on the national government to address violence against... Read more
Australian bishop hails U.S. Eucharistic Congress as model for global Catholic renewal
The Sydney auxiliary bishop, observing the Indianapolis event, sees it as inspiration for Australia’s hosting of the 2028 International Eucharistic... Read more
Church leaders praise Pakistan amendment raising legal age for marriage of Christians
Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously approved the raising of the minimum legal age for marriage to 18 earlier this month. Read more
Syro-Malabar Church in India initiates plan to resolve bitter liturgical feud
“The Holy Qurbana [Mass] should not be the reason for division in the Church,” Father Antony Vadakkekara, Church spokesperson, told... Read more
Top Catholic app reportedly removed from app store in China
Alex Jones, Hallow’s founder, posted on social media Monday afternoon that the app “just got kicked out of the App... Read more
Filipino bishops urge nation to ‘take a little more time’ before legalizing civil divorce
The Philippines is the only nation in the world, other than the Vatican, where divorce is still outlawed. Read more
11 Vietnamese Christians missing from detention amid religious freedom concerns
A report released July 5 claims the missing individuals were sentenced between 2011 and 2016 to a combined total of... Read more
Holy See encourages Catholics in Philippines to ‘listen to their pastors’ on divorce bill
The Absolute Divorce bill passed the Philippines’ House of Representatives on May 22 with 131 votes in favor of the... Read more
Cardinal calls for beatification, canonization of WWII heroine and nurse from Malaysia
Sybil Kathigasu is a heroine and lay martyr who protected information and housed and nursed local members of the anti-Japanese... Read more
Indonesian island set to become an international Catholic pilgrim destination
The government of Indonesia plans to boost religious tourism on Flores Island, famous for its history and Catholic heritage. Read more
Jimmy Lai biographer: Trial is a ‘sham,’ but faith gives him ‘strength’
Lai, the Chinese-born founder of the anti-government newspaper Apple Daily, entered a not guilty plea to charges of conspiring to... Read more
Archbishop warns of religious freedom erosion in Australia, calls for ‘saints for our time’
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher raised the alarm over Australia’s incremental erosion of religious freedom and called for committed action. Read more
Indian Christians see Hindu nationalist party’s failure to win majority as vote against Modi
“The big story of this election is that arrogant Prime Minister Modi has been cut to size by the people’s... Read more
Vatican clears New Zealand Cardinal John Dew of abuse allegations
The allegation of historical sexual abuse had been raised against Dew around the time he retired as archbishop of Wellington... Read more
Indian Supreme Court: Anti-conversion law may be ‘unconstitutional’
The court noted that “some parts [of the law] may seem to be violative of the fundamental right to religion... Read more
Hong Kong cardinal urges forgiveness on Tiananmen Square 35th anniversary
During the June 4, 1989, clash between protesters and Chinese troops, tanks rolled into Beijing’s main city square and military... Read more
Pope Francis appoints California priest to remote island post in Polynesia
Father Eliseo Napiere, pastor of St. James the Less Parish in the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, will take up... Read more
New Filipino bishop of the Pacific’s Cook Islands hopes to ‘spiritually nourish’ his people
Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado expressed his aspiration to “spiritually nourish” the people of God and develop a “harmonious relationship” with... Read more
As Jimmy Lai languishes in prison, fellow activists convicted in Hong Kong
Fourteen pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been convicted of subversion while billionaire Catholic convert Jimmy Lai, 76, remains imprisoned. Read more
