Asia

• 3 July 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Religion, ethnicity, fundamentalism and attempts at dialogue in the archipelago of Indonesia Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - An archipelago of 17 thousand islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans Indonesia is one of the world’s most populous countries (215 million), with a millennial culture, more than 250 ethnic gr ...
• 3 July 2004
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Links to Fides Archive Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the occasion of presidential elections on 5 Jul2004 in Indonesia, Fides gives a list of links from its archives to supply background to the present political and situation in Indonesia. ...
• 2 July 2004
  ASIA/IRAQ - Christians threatened by extremists “but we are still here” Iraqi priest tells Fides. Concern that new Iraqi television speaks only of Islam ignoring other faiths in Iraq Baghdad (Fides Service)- “Christians are not running away from Iraq. Some media keep reporting that Christians are leaving en masse but this is not true,” Father Nizar Semaan, a priest in Mosul, northern Iraq told Fi ...
• 2 July 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - The Voice of Christianity, presented by Reverend Dominic Emmanuel on Jain Tv Private channel proclaims the Gospel and helps remove prejudice and promote interreligious dialogue New Delhi (Fides Service) - To evangelise the media culture is the aim of The Voice of Christianity programme broadcast by a private TV channel Jain TV. The programme produced by the Social Communications Office of the a ...
• 2 July 2004
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Prayers and freedom of expression at peaceful rally on July 1 anniversary of Hong Kong hand- over to China: Basic Law fundamental for Hong Kong Hong Kong (Fides Service) - The citizens of Hong Kong held a democratic rally, prayed in silence exercising the right sanctioned in Basic Law, Constitution of Hong Kong, in force since the hand-over from Britain to China ...
• 2 July 2004
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Dramatic testimony of Filipino workers in regions where freedom of religion is non-existent Manila (Fides Service) - “At customs they took away my rosary a small cross and prayer book…but what most offended me was that they broke the crucifix in front of me! Mass on Sunday we can’t even talk about it!”. ...
• 1 July 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Catholic Sisters from Tamil Nadu open new mission in West Bengal Calcutta (Fides Service) - A journey from south to north across the nation in the name of faith and love for the poor and for evangelisation was undertaken by Sister Servants of the Sorrowful Mother OSM a congregation s ...
• 1 July 2004
  ASIA/HONG KONG - Peaceful rally and prayers to support democracy in Hong Kong: - Intervention by Bishop Joseph Zen, Bishop of Hong Kong Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Peaceful demonstrations for democracy and shared prayers among all Christians in Hong Kong marked the 7th anniversary of the hand over when the former British colony returned under Chinese sov ...
• 1 July 2004
  ASIA/INDIA - Catholic Bishops meet Prime Minister: Church/State cooperation to build tolerance and social harmony in India New Delhi (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of India appreciate the programme of the government and assure collaboration on the part of the Catholic Church to achieve new and productive social policies: this was sai ...
• 1 July 2004
  ASIA/CHINA - Remembering Bishop Michael He Jinmin of Ningbo diocese; enthusiastic evangeliser to the very end Ningbo (Fides Service) - A Bishop who took to heart and put into practise the indications of the Second Vatican Council. This is how Chinese Catholics remember Bishop Michael He Jinmin of Ningbo diocese in the mainland p ...
• 30 June 2004
  ASIA/TURKEY - Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch strengthens ecumenical ties Antioch (Fides Service) - The feast day of Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch situated in southern Turkey near the Syrian border has always been an opportunity for ecumenical prayer and dialogue and a means of strengthenin ...
• 30 June 2004
  ASIA/SRI LANKA - No to a law which banning conversion violating freedom of conscience: joint message from Catholic Bishops and Protestant church leaders Colombo (Fides Service) - “We disapprove the moves to enact legislation to prohibit or restrict conversions and call upon all people of goodwill to stand up for the free exercise of religious freedom and freedom of con ...
• 28 June 2004
  ASIA/CHINA - Evangelisation reaches remote villages thanks to team of women religious and catechists led by a priest Shan Xi (Fides Service) - Although far from any town the Catholic community Xin Jiang, Shan Xi province is very active. In view of mission the parish priest divided the surrounding villages into three zones for itineran ...
• 26 June 2004
  ASIA/TAIWAN - National Council of the Apostolate of the Laity stresses the importance of mission cooperation Taipei (Fides Service) - Taiwan’s National Council of the Apostolate of the Laity recently held a fruitful 10th assembly in Taipei. The daylong assembly was presided by Archbishop Joseph Cheng, Archbishop of Taipei who ...
• 26 June 2004
  OCEANIA/SOLOMON ISLANDS - Prime Minister praises Christians for contribution past and present to growth of the nation: celebrations mark 100 anniversary of arrival of first Catholic missionaries in these remote Pacific islands Honiara (Fides Service) - Gratitude to Christian missionaries who in the past and present contributed to the growth of the nation was voiced recently by Solomon Islands Prime Minister. Sir Allan Kemakeza commended the V ...