On Monday, Philippine authorities arrested and detained a 71-year-old Australian nun because she had allegedly violated the conditions of her visa by engaging in illegal political activities. There is a possibility that she will be deported as an “undesirable alien”. Sister Patricia Fox, Philippine superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, was arrested at Read more
Catholic church leaders say they are not surprised by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drop in popularity. They were reacting to Sunday’s results of a Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) survey showing Duterte’s net satisfaction rating fell from June’s “very good rating” to “good”. According to the third quarter survey, which was conducted from September 23 to Read more
The Catholic Church in the Philippines is showing itself to be President Rodrigo Duterte’s strongest opponent, criticising and renaming Duterte’s “war on drugs” as “extra-judicial killings”. Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos, where 32 of last week’s 81 victims died, says: “We are all concerned about the number of drug related killings in the province because Read more
The Philippines bishops’ conference has elected a new president: Archbishop Romulo Valles. Since 2012 Archbishop Valles, 66, has headed the Archdiocese of Davao, on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao. Davao is the largest city in the region. About 80 per cent – or 80 million people – in the Philippines are Catholic. Read more
The conflict in the Philippine city of Marawi is not about religion say Filipino bishops. They are urging all faiths to work together. “We heard and read truly amazing stories of how the Muslims protected us and helped Christians avoid an almost certain death. Now Christians are helping thousands of Muslims who have fled from Read more
ISIS militants desecrated another Catholic church last week in the southern Philippines island of Mindanao. The church is in the village of Malagakit. The crucifix and images of Our Lady and Christ were destroyed while consecrated hosts were thrown on the floor. Read more
Rampaging ISIS terrorists in the southern Philippine city of Marawi have desecrated a cathedral and destroyed its holy images. A video posted by the gunmen showed armed men throwing down and stomping on the images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph and tearing up posters of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI. ISIS Read more
The executed bodies of eight civilians have been found dumped in a ravine outside Marawi City in the Southern Phillipines. Islamist rebels have been occupying the town for several days. Most of the dead were shot in the head. Some had their hands tied behind their backs. Read more
ISIS has burned buildings, beheaded a police chief, killed five soldiers and two policemen and kidnapped a priest, parish staff and parishioners in a rampage through Marawi, a mainly Muslim town in the southern Philippines. Further atrocities are emerging as news reports filter out of the region. The militants have raised the black ISIS flag Read more