Tag: Catholics

Mexico a ‘case study in government inaction’ as third priest killed this year

July 12, 2017 Mexico Catholics, Coahuila, Latin America, Los Zetas, Mexico City, Michoacán, Nayarit, Organised crime, Tijuana

A third Mexican priest this year has been killed following a violent attack at his parish just outside Mexico City. Luis Lopez Villa, 71, was killed by intruders at his San Isidro Labrador parish in Nezahualcóyotl on 5 July. An initial police report said his hands and feet were bound . . . Read More

Filipino Bishops: ‘Marawi war is not a religious conflict’

July 11, 2017 Philippines Bangsamoro, Catholics, Manila, Marawi, Maute, Philippines, Teresito Suganob

Smoke is billowing from Marawi's homes. (Photo: Getty Images)

The Catholic Bishops in the Philippines, at the end of their episcopal Conference in Manila on Monday (10 July), have called for an end to the crisis in the southern city of Marawi (Mindanao), which, they say, “is not a conflict of religion”. “We heard and read truly amazing stories . . . Read More

Vietnam issues harsh sentence to another Catholic blogger

July 3, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Communism, Hanoi, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Women

Vietnam has again been criticised over its treatment of a Catholic blogger. Mary Magdalene Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, 37, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a one-day trial on 29 June for posting what police described as anti-state reports, including one about civilians dying in police custody, reports . . . Read More

Eritrean Christian women detained in ‘notoriously harsh prison’

June 30, 2017 Eritrea Asmara, Catholics, Eritrean Orthodox Church, Protestants, Sunni

Thirty-three Eritrean women, detained during a series of raids on churches by the military, are being held in a “notoriously harsh prison”, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The women are among a growing number of Eritrean Christians arrested since the beginning of May. CSW says at least 170 have . . . Read More

German ambassador makes rare criticism of China over religious freedom

June 28, 2017 China Beijing, Catholics, China, Churches, Crosses, Education, House churches, Peter Shao Zhumin, Religious freedom, Wenzhou, Zhejiang

The German ambassador to China has made an official request that the Beijing government release Peter Shao Zhumin, the bishop of Wenzhou, reports Asia News. It is thought to be the first request of this kind made to China in 10 years. In his official statement on his embassy’s website . . . Read More

Vietnam Catholic blogger ‘will continue his struggle’ after expulsion to France

June 27, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Communism, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam has now expelled to France the Catholic activist Peter Pham Minh Hoang, citing his violation of laws and that he had “undermined national security,” reports UCANews. Hoang, who arrived in Paris on 25 June after being arrested and detained two days earlier, wasn’t allowed to say goodbye to his . . . Read More

Mexico still ‘most dangerous country to be a priest’

June 13, 2017 Mexico Catholics, Guerrero, Jalisco, Organised crime

A bishop forced to pay protection money to use his own cathedral is the latest example of why, for the eighth year running, Mexico is considered the most dangerous country to be a Catholic priest. The Catholic Media Centre’s latest annual report says at least 15 priest have been murdered . . . Read More

Vietnam’s bishops say new religion law ‘not considered a human right’

June 8, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Communism, Hanoi, Nguyen Cong Chinh, Religious freedom

Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh (UCAN)

Senior Catholics in Vietnam have issued a statement to high-ranking communist officials criticising the country’s new religion law, due to come into effect in January 2018, reports UCANews. The Law on Belief and Religion – the first ever law on religions since Vietnam was re-unified under communist rule in 1975 . . . Read More

Death threat note left in Tanzanian coast Catholic Church

May 8, 2017 Tanzania Catholics, Churches, Islamic extremism, Tanzania

Neighbours are checking out the damaged church. Photo: Clement Simba

A Catholic Church in one of Tanzania’s coastal regions has been broken into and four priests’ robes set on fire. The arsonists also left a note behind, warning that one day they would return to kill 12 people. The incident, which took place Sunday evening 30 April, was first noticed . . . Read More

Are attacks on DRC churches religiously motivated?

April 10, 2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Catholics, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, North Kivu

Amid the increasing political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, senior Catholic leaders have reported increasing attacks on church properties, and the intimidation and even torture of clergy. Below, World Watch Monitor’s Africa Bureau Chief, Illia Djadi, gives his perspective on what’s driving the new wave of violence. What . . . Read More

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