Ban religion from politics: Pakistan church leaders

Religion should be banned from politics in Pakistan as it now is in Bangladesh, Church leaders say.

Irish blasphemy law being used as a lever by Islamic countries

The Freedom of Expression pressure group Article 19 has expressed concern that the Irish blasphemy legislation is being used by Islamic countries to demand an international “defamation of religion” law. (khmerlover.org)

Moving forward from church attacks in Malaysia

Attacks on places of worship as we’ve seen over the past few days are unprecedented in Malaysia — but they offer an unprecedented opportunity for Malaysians. (John Lee, Malaysian Insider)

Persecuted in prayer, in China

It has been six weeks since worshippers at Beijing’s Shouwang House Church were abruptly shunted out of their long-time home in a nondescript low-rise building. (Michael Sainsbury, The Australian)

The Acton Institute

The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty is named after the great English historian, Lord John Acton (1834-1902).

The Filipino “politically incorrect” Christmas

My brother-in-law and I often lament about the fact that Filipinos can be very politically incorrect. (Nancy Unchuan Toledo, The Freeman/Philstar.com)

Laypeople flock to pastoral training center

Thousands of Catholics are taking faith formation courses offered by Ho Chi Minh City archdiocese. (UCA News)
Auxiliary Bishop Pierre Nguyen Van Kham (pic) told UCA News 1,700 laypeople attend evening courses during the week at the archdiocesan Pastoral Center.
Another 650 catechists, parish council members and marriage counselors attend weekend sessions, and 220 Religious women attend [...]

A question of whom to trust, in Pakistan

Last Sunday I attended a church service presided over by the Archbishop of Lahore, Lawrence Saldanha. There were armed guards at the entrance to the church plus nine plainclothes police placed in the congregation. (Father Frank Brennan, UCA News)
Pakistanis do not know whom to trust at this time.
Christians, who are less than 2 percent of [...]

Journalists covering religion: challenges and rewards

Scepticism or cynicism. Advocacy or sabotage. Freedom of expression or religious sensitivity. Recent years have witnessed conflicts and rampant violence in different corners of the world. Interestingly, religion and mass media have often been attributed to being among the key factors behind the growing spats, and in turn, each often eyes the other as the [...]

Church not afraid to preach Gospel: mission congress

Catholics in India will not be afraid to proclaim what Jesus means for them, asserts a message from the Indian Church’s first mission congress. (UCA News)
Some 1,200 delegates from 160 dioceses attended the Oct. 14-18 congress titled Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav (Lord Jesus grand festival) with the theme, “Let Your Light Shine.”
Preaching the Gospel is a [...]

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