Asia - Pacific News

Parliament House, Canberra.

Australian bishops: religious discrimination bill has merit, but flaws should be fixed

Feb 14, 2020

Australia’s Catholic bishops have welcomed changes to a proposed religious discrimination bill to protect religious believers and institutions from discrimination... Read more

National Flag of the Philippines.

Sedition charges dropped against 4 bishops in Philippines

Feb 12, 2020

The Philipine government has dropped charges against four bishops and two priests who were accused of attempting to overthrow President Rodrigo... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun speaks at the Asianews Conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen to Congressmen: China wants Vatican 'surrender'

Feb 11, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong, told CNA that the situation is dire for the Church in... Read more

Catholic leaders warn Philippine divorce bill lacks sufficient debate

Feb 6, 2020

Catholic leaders in the Philippines have voiced concern that a bill aiming to legalize divorce is progressing without significant debate.  Read more

Syro-Malabar archdiocese opens sainthood cause of Vincentian founder

Feb 6, 2020

The cause for beatification of Father Varkey Kattarath, founder of the Vincentian Congregation, was opened Wednesday at a ceremony in... Read more

Bangladesh court signals support for ban on prenatal gender detection  

Feb 5, 2020

The High Court in Bangladesh has asked the government to justify its continued allowance of prenatal gender detection technology, which... Read more

Bush fire in Australia.

New disaster relief initiative unveiled in Australia

Feb 1, 2020

Catholic leaders in Australia have announced the creation of a new disaster response initiative to aid those affected by devastating... Read more

Chinese churches closed in response to coronavirus 

Jan 31, 2020

As the deadly coronavirus continues to spread in China, church services in some areas have been cancelled for this weekend.  Read more

Emergency personnel respond to a bushfire on the outskirts of Bilpin, Australia.

US bishops offer prayers after Americans killed fighting wildfires in Australia

Jan 25, 2020

Committee leaders at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voiced prayers and sorrow at the deaths of three American crew... Read more

Passengers are screened at an airport in Manila, Philippines following a coronavirus outbreak in China.

Filipino bishops urge caution amid coronavirus report

Jan 23, 2020

Filipino Church leaders have urged parishioners to be extra cautious amidst a deadly outbreak of coronavirus, which has affected hundreds... Read more

Catholic Church of the Saviour also called Xishiku Church or Beitang in Xicheng District, Beijing, China. Via Shutterstock

Chinese bishop and priests evicted over 'fire safety'

Jan 17, 2020

Chinese officials have evicted members of the clergy, including a bishop, from their homes and are closing Catholic parishes in... Read more

Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Hong Kong

Vatican picks Hong Kong bishop, delays announcement

Jan 17, 2020

By Ed Condon

Hong Kong has been without a diocesan bishop since the death of Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung in January 2019, after... Read more

Sajith Joseph and others after being received into the Church at St. Mary's Cathedral in Punalur, Dec. 21, 2019. Courtesy photo.

Founder of Protestant movement returns to Catholic Church

Jan 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The founder of a prominent non-denominational movement in India has returned to the Catholic faith of his baptism, after more... Read more

Fire and rescue personnel before a bushfire next to a major road and homes near Bilpin, New South Wales, Dec. 19, 2019.

Sydney archbishop encourages relief donations amid Australia fires

Jan 13, 2020

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney urged Mass attendees Sunday to pray for an end to the Australia fires, which have... Read more

Archbishop Carlos Castillo of Lima.

Lima archbishop offers 'clarification' on controversial Eucharist remarks

Jan 13, 2020

After controversial remarks last week, the Archbishop of Lima said Thursday that he did not intend to undermine the importance... Read more

Cardinal George Pell arrives at Melbourne County Court on Feb. 27, 2019.

Cardinal Pell transferred to new maximum-security prison

Jan 13, 2020

Cardinal George Pell has reportedly been transferred out of the Melbourne prison in which he has been incarcerated for more... Read more

India Catholics aim to build 100-foot Jesus statue, despite Hindu criticism

Jan 9, 2020

Catholics in India are seeking to erect the nation’s tallest statue of Jesus, over objections by Hindu groups who say... Read more

Chinese Catholic priest at St. Michael's Church, Beijing, March, 2016.

Catholic persecution worse after Vatican-China deal, Congress finds

Jan 8, 2020

By Matt Hadro

A new U.S. government report says that human rights abuse in China has worsened in the last year, and specifically highlighted the... Read more

Iranians gather around the caskets of Qasem Soleimani and others during a funeral procession after the bodies arrived in Qom, Jan. 6, 2020.

Iranian nuncio appeals for negotiation, not revenge

Jan 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As tensions escalate between Iran and the United States following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the pope’s diplomat in Tehran... Read more

Christmas Mass event of the Nativity of Our Lady church on DEC 24, 2019 at Macau, China.

China announces new crackdown on religious freedom

Jan 6, 2020

China will enforce new restrictions on religious groups, organizations, meetings, and other related events starting on Feb 1.   Read more