Asia

• 18 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - “Long before the first Muslims arrived there were Christians in this region and we intend to stay here. We will not abandon our country”, a member of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad told Fides Baghdad (Fides Service) - “These attacks on churches clearly aim to frighten Christians and make them leave Iraq” a member of the Chaldean Catholic in Baghdad told Fides. The source said Christians are in fact leavin ...
• 16 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - If the massacre continues what future for Iraq’s Christian community? Local community sends Fides “list of horror” with names of local Christians killed by Islamic fanatics Baghdad (Fides Service) - The most recent victim was a little Chaldean Christian girl brutally murdered by a group of Islamic terrorists in Baghdad. The group kidnapped the child and demanded ransom money for her release ...
• 15 October 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Religious communities work to promote reconciliation and peace- local Catholic Church holds Synod Ambon (Fides Service) - Religious communities in the Moluccas want to build a future of peace for their islands through more commitment at the level of education and social initiatives to promote a culture of peace, espe ...
• 14 October 2004
  ASIA/TERRA SANTA - Salesian bakery marks anniversary with initiative “Bread for Bethlehem” to help poor Palestinian families Bethlehem (Fides Service) -A Salesian bakery in Bethlehem, which helps Palestinian families impoverished by war and absence of tourists, is marking its hundred anniversary. Since the start of the second Intifada four ye ...
• 14 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - Life is a nightmare for Christians in Mosul, fundamentalists kidnap and kill. Catholic nun tells Fides: “some Imam are saying it is not a crime to kill a Christian” Mosul (Fides) - “The situation is serious. Christian live in constant fear of being attacked, kidnapped and killed by radical Islamic groups of terrorists. Once Mosul was a quiet town now life is impossible, an Iraqi C ...
• 13 October 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Catholics all over the country pray for the recovery of ailing Cardinal Jaime Sin Manila (Fides Service) - Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila has called on the people to pray for the deeply loved Cardinal Jaime Sin, hospitalised in Manila. Clergy, men and women religious, laity, movements, schools ...
• 13 October 2004
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - President Musharraf said Kashmir problem could be solved in 24 hours with “withdrawal of Indian troops and an agreement for the region” Islamabad (Fides Service) - While, despite a cease fire agreement and steps of reconciliation taken by the two neighbouring powers, reports on isolated clashes in region of Kashmir continue to arrive, the president of P ...
• 13 October 2004
  AFRICA/EGYPT - Where does Islamic terrorism come from? In 30 lines Italian Comboni missionary in Egypt provides the answer Cairo (Fides Service)- “The west is so proud of its studies sociology and yet it fails to grasp the complexity of Islam” Italian Comboni missionary Father Giuseppe Scatolin an expert on Islam told Fides. “Islamic t ...
• 13 October 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - In the south the battle against terror continues, while the government tries to revive the peace process - six members of Abu Sayyaf committed for trial for Ferry boat attack Manila (Fides Service) - Six members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group were committed for trial in the Philippines for the 27 February attack on Superferry 14, in which more than 100 were killed. Announcing the indictmen ...
• 13 October 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Missionaries from Spain, Jesuits and Salesians, religious and lay members, promote education for development of Tribals in Gujarat New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - Missionaries from Spain, Jesuits and Salesians, religious and lay members are busy preparing teachers to help the development of Tribals in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The missionarie ...
• 12 October 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Torch light procession, all night prayer and special Mass in Manila cathedral will mark the start of the Year of the Eucharist in the capital: Catholics pray for ailing Cardinal Sin Manila (Fides Service) - The Church in the Philippines has organised a torch light procession through the streets of Manila on Saturday 23 October and a solemn Mass on the Cathedral on Sunday 24 October to mark the openi ...
• 11 October 2004
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - New diocese of Uijongbu on the border with North Korea takes first steps Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - With a meeting of all its priests the newly created diocese of Uijongbu, situated close to the border with north Korea, took its first steps to organise pastoral activity . The Council of Presbyte ...
• 11 October 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Catholic Bishops urge President Gloria Arroyo to abolish capital punishment Manila (Fides Service) - On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, October 11, 2004, the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines strongly ap ...
• 11 October 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - “Peace begins at home”: Catholic Bishops of north eastern India organise monthly First Friday for Peace to promote social harmony among at least 300 ethnic groups struggling with poverty and unemployment New Delhi (Fides Service) - The north eastern part of India, a region with situations of tension and conflict, feels neglected by the central government preoccupied with the question of Kashmir and problems caused by sp ...
• 11 October 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - Christians in trenches in Mosul call to Fides. In this situation how can these barbaric threats and acts of violence be stopped, how can co-existence continue? Baghdad (Fides Service)- Father Nizar Semaan a Catholic priest in Iraq sent Fides following report on the situation: “People in Mosul, mostly Christians, are afraid since radical groups act in broad daylight and no one ...