Leading Catholics in terrorism-plagued Indonesia have criticized prosecutors who demanded the death sentence for the terrorist allegedly behind a deadly spate of suicide bombings and attacks against police that have left many dead. Continue reading
Asia Pacific
Pacific Anglican church says no to blessing same-sex couples
Monday, May 21st, 2018
The Tikanga Pasifika, the Pacific arm of the Anglican Church, has opted not to support a resolution passed at the recent general synod of the Anglican communion allowing for the blessing of same-sex couples. The resolution affirms that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, but it allows for individual bishops to offer Read more
Salvation Army starts a mission in Samoa
Monday, May 21st, 2018
The Salvation Army Church has arrived in Samoa. They began their mission last Sunday at their Worship and Community Centre in Moto’otua. Lat year a delegation from Auckland met with the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoito seeking permission for the Army to establish a presence in Samoa. As a result of the meeting, Sa’ilele wrote asking the Army to Read more
Hawai’i Catholics helping people forced to flee volcano
Thursday, May 17th, 2018
A volcanic eruption in Hawai’i is forcing many people to evacuate their homes. In the Leilani Estates, a rural subdivision, on the eastern tip of the island, at least 15 fissures have opened up since May 3 spewing molten rock and poisonous sulphur dioxide gas. This subdivision is in the Sacred Heart parish. Parishioners who Read more
Bougainville Bishop says Church neutral on independence
Thursday, May 17th, 2018
In June next year, Bougainville will be voting to decide if it is to become independent from Papua New Guinea. The bishop of Bougainville, Bernard Unabali, says the church will support whatever the outcome would be – independence or autonomy. He said this when preaching at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral at Hahela in Buka Read more
Church centre stage in Timor Lesté election
Monday, May 14th, 2018
A debate has been raging over support for the Fretilin-led government in Timor Lesté by the chairman of the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Basilio do Nascimento. Now, after Saturday’s election, it seems this Fretilin-led government is heading for defeat. With more than 99 percent of votes counted in Saturday’s poll, the Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP) Read more
Bomb attacks at three churches in Indonesia
Monday, May 14th, 2018
A family of six staged suicide bombings at three Indonesian churches during church services on Sunday, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens. The family – a mother and father, two daughters aged nine and 12, and two sons aged 16 and 18 – were linked to local extremist network Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) Read more
Former archbishop in robes, in Rome
Thursday, May 10th, 2018
A former archbishop of Guam has attended a religious function in Rome despite having been stripped of his office. Anthony S. Apuron lost his position in the wake of sexual abuse claims. Apuron left Guam in 2016 after accusations that he sexually assaulted four altar boys when he was a priest. His nephew, Mark Apuron, Read more
Gangsters attack nuns in Hanoi
Thursday, May 10th, 2018
Gangsters have attacked a group of nuns as they protested against the construction of a house on their former land. The St Paul de Chartres sisters in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, tried to stop workers getting onto the site. Witnesses say gangsters working for the builders beat one nun unconscious. They say building workers had moved Read more
Claims of UN sexual misconduct in Fiji
Monday, May 7th, 2018
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is formally investigating claims of sexual misconduct against two members of its Fiji staff. The head of Fiji’s Women’s Crisis Centre says the allegations of sexual misconduct are a sign that all organisations should be open to scrutiny. The investigation follows complaints laid by three female employees against two Read more