Following the killing of a third priest in the Philippines, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Socrates Villegas and other leaders of his archdiocese released a strongly-worded statement. They called on President Rodrigo Duterte “to stop the verbal persecution of the Catholic Church because such attacks can wittingly embolden more crimes against priests.” The church leaders have declared June Read more
Church leaders in the Philippines have opposed the idea of arming priests as a protection measure in the wake of recent attacks on members of the clergy. Calls have come from several quarters for priests to take advantage of a 2014 law allowing journalists, priests, lawyers, doctors, nurses, accountants and engineers to carry firearms outside Read more
A Mexican priest was shot and killed on Monday. Then on Tuesday, Fr Oscar Lopez Navarro, from the Mexican Tampico diocese was kidnapped. He has since been released, apparently in exchange for a ransom. Read more
Smear campaigns have appeared about three priests murdered in Mexico over the past 10 days. The Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City said the campaign suggests the priests’ behaviour was questionable. Two of the slain priests died in Veracruz state last week. Veracruz state prosecutors alleged they were drinking with their killers before they disappeared Another Read more