News in JPIC News

Korean diocese begins building center for immigrants

Korean diocese begins building center for immigrants

by: ucanews.com reporter, Seoul in JPIC News,
Uijeongbu Diocese has begun construction of the 'Lighthouse of Asia' where immigrants and South Koreans can mutually share their cultures. The migrant pastoral committee of Uijeongbu Diocese on March 12 held a Mass and ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the migrants' cultural center at Bongilcheon Church in Paju, in South Korea's northern Gyeonggi province.

 

Philippine Catholic schools cry foul over tax plan

Philippine Catholic schools cry foul over tax plan

by: Joe Torres - UCAN Manila Reporter in JPIC News,

A proposal to tax religious institutions in the Philippines, especially Catholic schools, has drawn an angry response from church leaders and school administrators.Some sectors view the proposal as a reaction to church opposition to the proposed re-imposition of capital punishment.

Madrid restaurant offers homeless taste of luxury

Madrid restaurant offers homeless taste of luxury

by: Hagar Jobse - http://www.dw.com/ in JPIC News,

During the day the Robin Hood restaurant is a regular establishment where customers pay 11 euros for a fixed menu. But at night the place transforms into an establishment where homeless and people in need like Olga are served a sophisticated dinner for free. The business-model is simple: the earnings made at breakfast and lunch fund the evening meals for the homeless. 

Tamil protesters: 'We will sacrifice our lives'

Tamil protesters: 'We will sacrifice our lives'

by: UCA News - Niranjani Roland, Mullaitivu in JPIC News,

For over 20 days Kanchan Chandraleela has campaigned outside an air force base in Pulakudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu for the return of land stolen by the Sri Lankan military. Some 385 families from local villages have joined her to demand the return of a total of 212 hectares.

Trump's ban on immigrants is devastating, chaotic and cruel, US bishops say

Trump's ban on immigrants is devastating, chaotic and cruel, US bishops say

by: Catholic News Service - The Tablet in JPIC News,
New policy is both anti-Catholic and anti-American - and it establishes a religious criteria for refugees. Trump's ban on immigrants is devastating, chaotic and cruel, US bishops say President Donald Trump's executive memorandum intended to restrict the entry of terrorists coming to the United States brought an outcry from Catholic leaders across the US. 
Catholic church building destroyed in Myanmar

Catholic church building destroyed in Myanmar

by: John Zaw, Mandalay - UCAnews in JPIC News,

A Catholic church was bombed in the conflict-torn northern Shan State as renewed fighting intensified between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups. In an ironic twist, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mongkoe Township near the Chinese border was hit by air strikes on Dec. 3, the very feast day of St. Francis Xavier

Archbishop Welby: Absence of meaning has consequences

Archbishop Welby: Absence of meaning has consequences

by: D. Leal-Olivas/AFP - LaCroix in JPIC News,

There is a need for deep repentance and a change in direction on the part of all those who control the resources of the planet, argues the archbishop of Canterbury. Discontent is growing in western democracies as evidenced by Brexit, the election of Donald Trump and the rise of populism. Dr Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of the Anglican communion shares his views with La Croix.

 Philippine politicians sign honest poll covenant

Philippine politicians sign honest poll covenant

by: Joe Torres, Manila - UCA in JPIC News,

Candidates in this month's elections signed a covenant for "truthful, responsible, upright, transparent, and honest" polls during a Mass led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Manila Cathedral on May 2. Of the five presidential candidates, only administration candidate Manuel Roxas and opposition standard bearer Jejomar Binay attended the event.

China's crackdown continues as Christianity thrives

China's crackdown continues as Christianity thrives

by: Christian Solidarity Worldwide in JPIC News,

As many as 1,700 crosses have been removed from Catholic and Protestant churches in Zhejiang since early 2014. Many churches tried to negotiate with the authorities. Some later organized peaceful protests or wrote letters opposing what they see as a violation of their religious freedom, as did overseas Catholic and Protestant clergy.

Sarah Teather finds a more meaningful job

Sarah Teather finds a more meaningful job

by: Sarah Teather - The Tablet in JPIC News,

“I’m not a politician any more,” she says as she shows me round the Hurtado Centre in London’s East End, where the JRS provides targeted support for those driven to destitution by Britain’s ever-more draconian asylum process. “I do something else now.” Teather believes she is where she is meant to be; to be specific, where God means her to be.

MPs put pressure on David Cameron to recognise Christian 'genocide' in the Middle East

MPs put pressure on David Cameron to recognise Christian 'genocide' in the Middle East

by: Sean Smith - The Tablet in JPIC News,
Senior British politicians have put pressure on David Cameron with a letter urging that the UK joins other nation states in recognising the persecution of Christians in the Middle East as “genocide”. Last week the Lithuanian parliament become the first EU state to recognise legally that religious genocide is occurring across the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Iraq, Pakistan and northern Africa.
Crisis in Syria: On the Road from Damascus

Crisis in Syria: On the Road from Damascus

by: Timothy Radcliffe - The Tablet in JPIC News,

The bell rang out from the Carmelite monastery in the Syrian mountains between Damascus and Homs. It would be audible to Islamic State (IS) jihadists, whose front line is less than three miles away. It said defiantly: “We are still here.” The terrorists captured Qara, the local ­village, burnt the churches, dug up the Christian graves and scattered the bones. The friars and sisters had survived only by taking refuge in an old Roman tower where they were protected by Muslim friends. Now the village has been recaptured by the Syrian army.

Indian Catholics look to Laudati Si encyclical with great interest

Indian Catholics look to Laudati Si encyclical with great interest

by: Ritu Sharma, New Delhi-UCA Newus in JPIC News,

The Catholic Church in India is taking its cue from Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment in observing its annual Day for the Liberation of Dalits. "As we take care of nature, we have to take care of the marginalized and oppressed people in our country," Father Devasagaya Raj, secretary of the Indian Catholic bishops’ office for dalits and lower classes, told ucanews.com.

Property disputes in Goa

Property disputes in Goa

by: Bosco de Sousa Eremita, Panaji. UCAnews in JPIC News,

Goa, a Catholic stronghold and India's smallest state, is known for its white sand beaches and palm-fringed villages and is an attraction for both national and international tourists. As people migrated to Goa from across India in the past two decades, land prices have soared and become preferred investments.

'More guns won't help'

'More guns won't help'

by: Joe Torres - UCA News in JPIC News,

The president of a Jesuit university in Mindanao expressed concern over the Philippine government's decision to arm paramilitary groups that double as private armies for mining companies in the restive region.

The subtle persecution of Catholics in Goa

The subtle persecution of Catholics in Goa

by: Bosco de Sousa Eremita, Panaji, UCAnews in JPIC News,

Goa, former Portuguese colony and a Catholic stronghold in Western India, has for the first time this century shown a marinal increase in the Christian population. Religion-based data for the 2012 census release last month shows and increase of 6,560 Christian within the past decade,...

Shoulder to shoulder - Refugees Welcome

Shoulder to shoulder - Refugees Welcome

by: Dr Anna Rowlands - The Tablet in JPIC News,

The response of many Europeans to the plight of refugees arriving on the continent’s shores is one of solidarity, a principle at the heart of the original European project, inspired by Catholic Social Teaching. But while the people embrace solidarity, the politicians appear to have forgotten it.

Marketplace for need

Marketplace for need

by: Frank Field and Andrew Forsey-The Tablet in JPIC News,

Hundreds of thousands of people in Britain today are hungry because they cannot afford to buy or cook themselves food. For this to be happening in the world’s fifth-largest economy is nothing short of appalling.