AP News: The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble, yet another victim of the Islamic State group’s relentless destruction of ancient cultural sites. Read more here.
Category: Persecution of the Church
Pakistan: Christian Slum Village Has Its Water Cut Off by Gov Org
Vatican Insider: Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) has cut off a Christian neighbourhood’s water supply, sparking indignation and protests among the population. The move comes in the context of a controversial case, which reached the Supreme Court of Pakistan after … Continue reading
Two Catholic Brothers Attacked in Bangladesh, Critically Injured
AsiaNews: Today, two Catholic brothers were seriously injured in the capital of Bangladesh. Rajesh D ‘Cruze, a banker, and Ranjan D’ Cruze, an employee in a private company are currently being treated in Dhaka Medical College Hospital but their conditions are … Continue reading
Late Show Host, a Catholic, Makes Fun of Syrian Christians
Mark Movsesian, First Things: Take a look at this clip from a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In the clip, Colbert mocks Republican presidential candidates who argue for admitting Syrian Christians as religious refugees. At least … Continue reading
Mass Allowed in North Korea? Yes, But . . .
Woe to those who attend it. Public Religious practice is still outlawed in the Communist state. No question that those who attend the Mass (only on major holydays) in the Pyongyang cathedral will be duly noted by the government. Catholic … Continue reading
Cardinal Who Knows Says ‘Forces’ Intent on Eradicating Christianity in Mid-East
Catholic Herald: “The forces that are at work now are intent on eradicating the Christian civilisation, nothing less,” said the 76-year-old US cardinal, who was in Sydney in October to reach out to the order’s 600 Australian members. Christians in … Continue reading
Underground Priest Suffers Suspicious Death in China
AsiaNews: Father Pedro Wei Heping (pictured), a young underground Catholic priest, died on 6 November under suspicious circumstances. The clergyman’s body was found floating in a river in the City of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. The Cardinal Kung Foundation reported the news … Continue reading
India: Woman Recounts Martyrdom of Her Husband by Hindu Mob
AsiaNews: I could not return to my home as the rioters had burned down my house. Spending whole night in the forest I came the following day to my mother’s house Raikia through forest. I met my husband there and as … Continue reading
Sunday in Syria: When Missile Hits, Move the Mass Outside
Imagine living in this war-torn nation not knowing if you will be the victim of terror at any moment. Yet the brave faithful gather for Holy Mass. Catholic News Agency: When a missile hit the roof of the church of Saint … Continue reading
Spain’s Socialist Party Wills to Take Religion Out of Catholic Schools
CNA: As Spain prepares for its general election in December, Pedro Sánchez, the leader of the nation’s socialist party, has said that if elected his government will pull religion courses from both public and private schools. Sánchez leads the Spanish Socialist … Continue reading
China RIP: Half of Bishop’s 94 Years Spent in Jail and Labor Camps
The Telegraph: Cosmas Shi Enxiang was ordained as a priest in 1947, two years before Chairman Mao’s Communist Party seized power and set about jailing Christian leaders, driving out missionaries and dismantling or destroying churches. Bishop Shi’s troubles began in 1954, … Continue reading
Czech Priest Martyred by Communists for Refusing to Deny MOracle
ChurchPop: This story reminds me of the threat the Communists made to Cardinal Kung prior to his arrest and imprisonment. They warned him that if any miracles happened at the tomb of Father Beda Chang whom they had tortured to … Continue reading
‘Fidel, the Moment of Truth Has Arrived’
California Catholic Daily: There’s no precise record of what Pope St. Leo the Great told Attila the Hun outside Rome’s lofty gates, but we do know that the savage Hun—moved by the Pontiff’s heed—had a drastic change of heart and spared … Continue reading
Pope Makes Unannounced Visit to Encourage the Government Persecuted Little Sisters of the Poor
National Catholic Register: Pope Francis paid a short visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor community in Washington on Wednesday to support them in their court case over the contraception mandate, the Vatican’s spokesman revealed. It was a “short … Continue reading
Missing Chinese Bishop a ‘Bargaining Chip’ in Negotiations with Vatican
UCANews: Bishop James Su Zhimin, one of the 20 prisoners featured in Rubio’s campaign, has spent the past 18 years in prison after refusing to join the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association in 1996. The Communist Party organ overseeing religious affairs, … Continue reading
