There is plenty of life in Karm Al Zeitoun, one of the suburbs of Beirut in the district of Ashrafieh, a name which means “Mount of Olives”. The streets are narrow, and the movement of cars and pedestrians results in little bottlenecks on every corner – and especially around the small dispensary run by the...
A senior Vatican Cardinal has urged children to pray the rosary to end the COVID-19 crisis. His call came in a letter backing Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)’s global prayer initiative “A Million Children Praying the Rosary”, asking young people to pray on Sunday, 18th October – or the following day if it easier for...
In an October 1 message marking the 60th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from British rule, Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto was harshly critical of the country’s President Mohammadu Buhari, faulting him for failing to rein in ongoing violence, much of it targeting Christians. “Where are the Chibok daughters? Where is Leah Sharibu? Who are the...
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) once again invites parishes, nurseries, schools, and families to participate in the initiative “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” on October. 18 or 19. The focus of the prayer campaign is worldwide unity and peace. This year provides a special context, because never before has there been such...
“The Saints, our brothers and sisters, loved Jesus and his life. Be their friends, and they will accompany you throughout your life.” With these few short words Pope Francis introduces the book “Online with Saints”. This new multi media book is available in both printed form and online for PC and smartphone. It can always...
A 14-year-old Pakistani girl’s struggle to be free of the man who raped her – and blackmailed her into marriage and religious conversion – has taken an unexpected turn after the defendant failed to appear in court. The court, in Rawalpindi, requested fresh evidence, including medical reports, as well as documentary material, including police records...
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has provided PPE for the priests as well as 92 seminarians and around 1,000 members of Ukraine’s religious communities. Father Grzegorz, a Polish priest from Lublin who is now based in Lviv, was able to visit COVID-19 patients twice a week thanks to ACN’s help. He said: “I...
REINHARD BACKES, head of Middle East projects for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reports on his fact-finding mission to Lebanon (Sept. 7-16, 2020). What is the situation in Lebanon? The Lebanese people, and especially the Christians because their quarters were most badly hit by the blast, are suffering a lot. There are different...
FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS in Kaduna State, in north-central Nigeria, there have been incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen on Christian communities, killing 178 people. In a statement by the Catholic bishops of Kaduna Province sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the bishops said that “dark clouds of violence have enveloped our...
A court in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore has sentenced a Christian man, Asif Pervaiz, to death under the country’s blasphemy law, after he was accused of sending blasphemous text message to his former boss. According to his lawyer, Saif-ul-Malook, Pervaiz, 37, has been in custody since 2013 after his former supervisor at the...
