Despite heavy bombing, Aleppo children gather for Skype conference with EU politicians The fighting in Aleppo over the last few days has been particularly fierce. In both East and West, quarter by quarter, street by street intense bombing coupled with small arms fire has marked the ebb and flow of war between rebel and...
PHILIPPINES – “We are baptised but not evangelised” – interview with Reinhard Backes Post-trip interview with Head of Section Reinhard Backes by Maria Lozano – Trip to the Philippines 20th October to 1st November What was your general impression of the country? This is a wonderful country, very young and dynamic. According to official...
CHINA – Two new bishops ordained with Vatican approval After more than 60 years of estrangement, secret talks between the Vatican and Chinese authorities offer new hope. Vatican and Chinese officials met at least four times since January this year, including in Rome, to try and resolve the delicate issue of the appointment of bishops....
ACN provides electricity for a Catholic care home for the elderly The diocese of Badulla lies in one of the poorest and most neglected regions on the island of Sri Lanka. Catholics represent only a tiny minority here. Most of the people live and work on the tea plantations and are desperately poor. Hence...
Nepal – Holy Cross Sisters mission for poor remote villages is thriving It is almost 10 years now since the sisters of the congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Cross first began their apostolate in East Nepal. They are helping to give schooling to children from the poorest families, and at the same time...
PAKISTAN – Muslim extremists sentenced to death for burning Christians alive An anti-terror court in Pakistan has sentenced to death Muslim extremists convicted of killing a Christian couple by burning them alive. Shahzad Masih and his wife Shama Bibi who was five months pregnant were killed after being accused of blasphemy for burning pages of the...
“Eritrea hungers for God” Interview: Father Andrzej Halemba – first impressions after his recent trip to Eritrea You have recently been in Eritrea. What is your impression about this country? It was the first time for me, after so many years of trying I got finally the permission to go to Eritrea. Nearly 50% of...
VIETNAM – New law still doesn’t ensure religious freedom Vietnamese politicians have just passed the country’s first ever bill which would appear to enshrine religious freedom. The exact details of the Law on Belief and Religion have not been made public yet but Christian groups fear the right to worship freely is still not assured....
Religious Freedom in the World report 2016 launched in Malta The 13th edition of the Religious Freedom in the World report, produced by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was launched in Malta on 25 November 2106. To mark the occasion, Portes des Bombes was lit up in red on Friday...
Fr Ziad Hilal S.J. visits parishes in Malta and Gozo Fr Ziad Hilal S.J. who came to Malta as a keynote speaker for the launch of “Religious Freedom in the World” report 2016, also had a full programme of visits to various parishes all over the Maltese islands. Immediately after the launch on Fri...
