03/23/2015VATICAN Pope: Where there is no mercy, there is no justice, not even in the Church "When the people of God come voluntarily to ask forgiveness, to be judged" they often find vicious people "capable of trying to exploit them," they find "dealmakers" who "do not give oxygen to that soul, do not give hope" or they find "the rigid who punish in the penitent they themselves hide in their own soul". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Even in the Church where there is no mercy, there is no justice - "the Bible tells us that mercy is a just judgment" - and even today "when the people of God come voluntarily to ask for forgiveness, to...
03/23/2015VIETNAM Threats to religious freedom undermine Vietnam’s Communist Party by Nguyen Hung Despite its “liberal” claims, Vietnam continues to repress and threaten religious minorities in an attempt to control their activities. Regardless of this, the Catholic Church remains committed to Rome, whilst oppression and injustice by the Communist Party undermines the trust people had in government. This is jeopardising the whole system.
03/23/2015AFGHANISTAN Ordinary Afghans take to Kabul streets in protest over Farkhunda's murder Dozens of people, many of them women, call on the government to dismiss and prosecute police agents involved in the victim's lynching. The 27-year-old was beaten to death, her body set on fire for allegedly burning a Qur'an. The investigation confirms her innocence. At the funeral, women were able to carry her coffin.
03/23/2015YEMEN As Houthi militias move south, UN warns of possible civil war After seizing Taez, Houthis move south, towards Aden President Hadi's refuge. IS claims responsibility for the attacks against two mosques in Sana's, killing 142. With Saudi-Iranian confrontation playing itself out, UN calls for renewed political dialogue.
03/23/2015ISRAEL After Netanyahu's victory, Israel's left has to start with new leaders by Uri Avnery The Israeli peace activist looks at the results of Israel's recent elections, which accurately reflect the country's demographic make-up. The left must be able to make inroads among Mizrahi (oriental) Jews and immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Jewish and Arab communities must be reconciled. The absence of the words "peace" and "Palestine" during the campaign was there for everyone to see.
03/23/2015INDONESIA Indonesian elections are an opportunity to boost the Catholic presence in the country's life by Mathias Hariyadi At the end of this year, Indonesians will go to the polls in 8 provinces, 26 regencies and 170 districts. The country's Catholic bishops support "strong, smart and responsible" Catholic candidates to promote the Church's message and values in society.
03/23/2015INDIA India, fresh attacks on two Catholic churches "evil and dangerous" by Nirmala Carvalho Stones fired at St. George’s in Mumbai (Maharashtra); extremists beat and rob some faithful in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), and then demolish the door of the cathedral. Catholic bishops condemn the attacks to AsiaNews. Religious leaders denounce the pervasive climate of impunity: "Extremists are becoming increasingly brazen."
03/23/2015SINGAPORE Singapore mourns Lee Kuan Yew, 91, the towering boss of the Asian tiger The government, under Lee's son Lee Hsien Loong, declared seven days of national mourning. A state funeral is scheduled for 29 March. The elderly statesman had been in hospital for weeks battling pneumonia. He led the small country with an iron fist for 30 years, creating a stable corruption-free economy. For critics, the price of his success was the denial of rights and freedoms.
03/23/2015TAIWAN-CHINA Great Chinese theologian, Fr. Berchmans Aloysius Chang, has died by Xin Yage A native of Suzhou (Jiangsu), he studied in Europe and the Philippines. He taught for 41 years at Furen University. He explained Vatican II in Chinese and worked to enculturate the Gospel in a Chinese perspective.
03/22/2015VATICAN Pope: Offer to the "many" who want to "see Jesus" the Gospel, the Cross and the witness to our faith "Christians can become 'grains' and bear much fruit if, like Jesus, they 'lose their life' for love of God and neighbor." Again this year, Francis distributes pocket Gospels in St Peter's Square. Today is World Water Day, sponsored by the United Nations, "the waters of the planet must be adequately protected and no one should be excluded or discriminated against in the use of this right, which is a common good par excellence."
03/21/2015VATICAN-ITALY Pope in Naples: "Today is the first day of spring. Pray for young people, for their future, for hope." Today's society "discards" young and old, and sees euthanasia as a solution to the ills of old age. Not only " technical euthanasia” applied with an injection, but a "hidden euthanasia", where the elderly are denied medicine, food, family affection. To prisoners: "even if we go wrong in life, the Lord never ceases to show us the way back home". To religious: "Those who gossip are like terrorists who detonate bombs that destroy themselves and everything else".
03/21/2015VATICAN - ITALY Pope: in Naples, find hope in Jesus and the power to redeem a city Corruption "stinks" !. "And a corrupt society ' stinks '! A Christian who allows corruption to enter them is not a Christian, they 'stink'!". "Those who voluntarily take the path of evil steal a piece of hope, earn a little something but steal hope from themselves, from others, from society." "We are all immigrants, children of God: children of God who has put us all on a journey, everyone." "To the criminals and all their accomplices, the Church repeats: convert to love and justice! Let yourselves be touched by the mercy of God!"