Tag: Catholics

Judges to newspaper: Stop saying ‘Allah’

October 14, 2013 Malaysia 'Allah', Catholics, Islamic extremism, Lawrence Andrew, Malaysia, The Herald

A Catholic newspaper may not use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, a Malaysian appeals court ruled on Monday. The all-Muslim, three-judge panel reversed a 2009 finding by a trial court that allowed the Malay-language newspaper, The Herald, to print the word. Chief judge Mohamed Apandi Ali said in . . . Read More

Boko Haram killing spree claims 110 Nigerians

October 1, 2013 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Catholics, Jos, Kaduna, Nigeria, Sharia, Yobe

The militant Islamist sect Boko Haram is suspected of killing at least 110 people of various faiths across Nigeria during the past week, prompting the country’s top Catholic bishop to declare the rebel movement “has no limits.” On Thursday, Sept. 26, gunmen killed Rev. Augustine Yohana, a Catholic priest, and . . . Read More

Catholic priest victim of latest Zanzibar acid attack

September 17, 2013 Tanzania Acid attacks, Amselmo Mwangamba, Catholics, Islamic extremism, Stone Town, Tanzania, Zanzibar

An elderly Catholic priest has been the victim of an acid attack in Zanzibar. Amselmo Mwangamba was attacked on Friday (September 13) and is now in hospital receiving treatment to burns on his face, chest and arms. This is the fifth acid attack on the island since November, according to . . . Read More

Vietnamese police crush protests against Catholics’ imprisonment

September 13, 2013 Vietnam Catholics, Vietnam

Around 40 people have been injured in Vietnam during a protest against the 3-month detention of two Catholics on minor charges. The protest on September 4 in Nghi Phuong, south of Hanoi, was a response to the police refusal to release Nguyen Van Hai, 43, and Ngo Van Khoi, 53, . . . Read More

Dozens of ‘noisy’ churches silenced in Cameroon

September 3, 2013 Cameroon Bamenda, Cameroon, Catholics, Churches, Nigeria, Pentecostals, Proselytism, Protestants, Yaoundé

The government of Cameroon has ordered the closure of dozens of churches in an attempt to put an end to what it considers to be anarchy among some Christian organisations. The measure, which authorities began to impose on August 23, targets Pentecostal churches, which are not officially recognised. The minister . . . Read More

OIC letter from C. African Republic President sought support for Islamic republic

May 22, 2013 Central African Republic African Union, Alindao, Bambari, Bangassou, Bangui, Bossangoa, Catholics, Kaga Bandoro, Michel Djotodia, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Seleka

Michel Djotodia, CAR President.Crispin for World Watch Monitor The Catholic Church in the Central African Republic (CAR) has written a letter to the former rebel leader and new President, Michel Djotodia, raising concerns about his past and asking him to speak out against the suffering inflicted on civilians by . . . Read More

Two steps back?

March 2, 2013 Vietnam Catholics, Central Highlands, Communism, Dien Bien, Hanoi, Hmong, Hoa Binh, Minorities, Nguyen Van Dai, Protestants, Religion Law, Religious freedom, Vietnam

On Jan. 1, Vietnam updated its rules for enforcing its highest law regarding religion. Known as the Decree on Religion 92/2012 ND-CP, or simply ND-92, the new decree is meant to clarify rules written in 2005. On close inspection, ND-92 does appear to clarify one thing: Vietnam’s intent to control . . . Read More

Sudanese authorities demolish two churches

June 28, 2012 Sudan Catholics, Churches, Education, Khartoum, South Sudan, Sudan

Authorities in Khartoum demolished two church buildings last week, days after confiscating three Catholic schools, sources told World Watch Monitor. Officials from the Ministry of Planning and Housing of the local government authority on June 18 sent bulldozers that destroyed a church building belonging to the St. John Episcopal Church . . . Read More

Missionary couple killed, peace pact in Puebla

February 3, 2012 Mexico Baptists, Catholics, Coahuila, Mexico, Mexico City, Missionaries, Organised crime, Protestants, Puebla

A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on Tuesday (Jan. 31) at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, Nuevo Leon. John Casias, 76, and Wanda Casias, 67, were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and . . . Read More

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