Asia - Pacific News
No guarantee to protect religious groups under Canadian same-sex marriage bill
Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said last week that he cannot guarantee full protection to religious organizations that refuse to... Read more
Korean leader in stem-cell research to meet with Catholic cleric
South Korea’s leading stem-cell researcher, Hwang Woo-suk, has agreed to meet with the country’s top Catholic leader, after the Church... Read more
Same-sex marriage bill continues to divide Canadian Parliament
A federal politician left the ruling Liberal Party yesterday to sit as an Independent over issues concerning Canada’s same-sex marriage... Read more
Detained Chinese priest released
Chinese authorities released a 75-year-old Catholic priest June 1, after he was detained for two months, the Cardinal Kung Foundation... Read more
Forum gathers 600 to discuss future of religious life
The largest gathering of consecrated religious in Canada in the last 30 years will be held in Montreal this weekend,... Read more
Pope Benedict issues blessing for Canadian exhibit of Vatican art
A much-anticipated exhibit of more than 300 pieces of Vatican art was launched yesterday at an invitation-only gathering at Notre-Dame... Read more
Quebec bishops meet with committee on education
The Quebec bishops met Wednesday with Education Minister Jean-Marc Fournier and a parliamentary committee to discuss a bill, which would... Read more
Filipino government investigating attempted bribery of archbishop
The Filipino Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into a bribery attempt on a local archbishop, who received a... Read more
Gunmen release hostages and bishop in Philippines
Gunmen in the Philippines released 13 hostages yesterday, including a Catholic bishop, after having kidnapped them the day before in... Read more
Pope Benedict to visit Canada in 2008
Pope Benedict XVI plans to make his first papal trip to Canada in 2008, “if God is willing.” Read more
Youth put in good showing at National March for Life in Canada
Canadians turned out in the thousands to demand an end to abortion at the National March for Life yesterday and... Read more
Conference to debate place of religion in secular society
An upcoming conference will explore the “culture war” that has developed in social and political debates between religious believers and... Read more
Thousands expected to defend life at national pro-life rally
Thousands of Canadians are expected to call on government to defend all human life at the national March for Life... Read more
Canadian diocese to sell all its churches to pay abuse victims
The Diocese of St. George’s, Newfoundland, plans to sell all of its churches and missions to settle sexual-abuse claims. Read more
Anglican Church of Canada postpones decision on same-sex unions
The governing body of the Anglican Church of Canada has decided to postpone a decision on performing same-sex marriages until... Read more
Africa new breeding ground for Muslim terrorists, says confidential report
Conflict and extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa have created a “permissive environment” for new recruits to al-Qaeda's terrorist network, says... Read more
Canadian bishops ‘disappointed’ same-sex marriage bill passed second reading
Canada’s draft legislation on same-sex marriage passed second reading in Parliament Wednesday because Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal Party and... Read more
Quebec bishops ‘disappointed’ about end of religious instruction in schools, but hopeful
Quebec bishops are disappointed that the provincial government has gone ahead and drafted legislation that will put an end to... Read more
Same-sex marriage bill one step closer to law in Canada
Canada’s same-sex marriage bill passed second reading in the House of Commons yesterday, moving it one step closer to becoming... Read more
Quebec to cut Catholic and Protestant religious instruction in public schools
The Quebec government has announced that it intends to cut Catholic and Protestant religious instruction from public schools and to... Read more
