ACN supports Pope Francis’ call to pray for people persecuted for their faith   THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS for March 2017: “That persecuted Christians may be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church.” The March edition of The Pope Video, produced by The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and supported by ACN...

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO New upsurge of violence against the Church   In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need by the national bishops’ conference of the Congo (CENCO), Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, the Archbishop of Kinshasa, denounces the ”alarming security situation” in his country, following new acts of violence perpetrated...

MALAYSIA – Christians worried as thousands rally to support Sharia law   Religious minorities are worried as thousands of Malaysians rallied in Kuala Lumpur to support the adoption of Islamic law. Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, deputy president of the hardline Islamist opposition Parti Islam-se Malaysia (PAS), one of its organisers, said 200,000 people were expected to...

EGYPT – Copts flee Sinai after deadly IS attacks   Several hundred Coptic Christians have fled their homes in North Sinai province where they have lived for generations following a series of murders in recent weeks by suspected Islamist militants. Since the end of January at least seven Christians have been attacked and killed in the...

Pope speaks out about the tragedy of child soldiers in Africa   Pope Frances was moved by the plight of thousands of young children who are still being taken from their homes in many parts of Africa and forced to fight. “Unfortunately, news continues to reach us of violent and brutal clashes in the region...

SUDAN – Czech missionary freed following international petition   Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has just ordered the pardon and release of Petr Jašek, a Czech missionary who had been detained in a Sudanese prison since December 2015. Jašek’s release was announced last Sunday at a joint press conference in Khartoum between Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim...

PAKISTAN – Christians shocked and worried after latest terrorist bombings   Terrorist attacks have resumed with a vengeance after two years of reduced violence following a military operation initiated in June 2014. Islamic State and groups allied to it claimed responsibility for six horrific suicide bomb attacks last week which killed nearly 100 people. The latest...

SUDAN – Missionary sentenced to 20 years in prison   A court in Khartoum, capital of Sudan has sentenced Petr Jasek, a Czech humanitarian worker and missionary, to 20 years in prison. The court found him guilty of crimes including espionage and inciting hatred. Jasek was originally facing the death penalty but his life was...