Silencing dissent: Belarus cracks down on clergy who supported protests of its authoritarian leader
YURAS KARMANAU, of Associated Press, reports on the increasing crackdown on clergy and religious organisations who are critical of the government of President Alexander Lukashenko…
Vatican charity in spotlight over old sex assault allegation
Rome, ItalyAP A pontifical foundation has admitted that its late founder was credibly accused of sexually assaulting a female employee, who came forward in 2010 after learning the deceased priest was being considered for possible beatification. Aid to the Church in Need, which raises money to build and rebuild churches and train priests in poor […]
Militants kills young seminarian in Nigeria
Abuja, NigeriaBosNewsLife Michael Nnadi, one of four Catholic seminarians kidnapped by armed men from the Good Shepherd Major Seminary in Nigeria’s troubled Kaduna state, has been killed, several Catholic sources have confirmed. “With immense sorrow, we must inform you that the last seminarian, Michael, in the hands of the kidnappers, was murdered,” said the Catholic charity […]
At least 14 dead after Burkina Faso church attack
At least 14 people died after gunmen opened fire in a Protestant church in Burkina Faso during a service on Sunday, according to reports. The attack, which took place in the Fada N’Gourma area near the border with Niger, is the latest in a string of incidents by Islamic extremists targeting Christians in the West African […]
New cardinal warns of rise of ‘extremist Islam’ in Madagascar
World Watch Monitor One of Pope Francis’s new cardinals has warned of the rise of “extremist Islam” in the southern African island nation of Madagascar. “The fundamentalists are beginning to establish themselves and, little by little, as their numbers grow, we start to wonder when they will really show who they are, and this truly […]
Rome’s Colosseum to be floodlit red to remember Asia Bibi and Boko Haram victim
World Watch Monitor The Colosseum in Rome will be floodlit in red later this month to highlight the persecution of Christians around the world, particularly in Iraq and Syria. The iconic landmark, in which some of the earliest Christians are believed to have been martyred under the Romans, will be floodlit red on 24th February, […]
Iraq and Philippines Christians join Red Wednesday religious freedom solidarity display
World Watch Monitor Landmarks in the UK, Ireland, Iraq and the Philippines were floodlit in red yesterday to highlight the persecution of faith groups for their “peacefully held beliefs”. The “Red Wednesday” initiative is in its second year and has been pioneered by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). This year it is also […]
Lamborghini given to Pope Francis to be auctioned with proceeds to help Christians return home in Iraq
PICTURE: Courtesy of Lamborghini A special edition Lamborghini Huracan sports car donated to Pope Francis will be auctioned off with some of the funds raised going to help rebuild Christian settlements on Iraq’s Nineveh Plains which were destroyed by the so-called Islamic State. The brand new white car, which was delivered to the Vatican on […]
Devastated northern Iraq needs ‘new Marshall Plan’ for reconstruction
World Watch Monitor The Archbishop of Erbil in northern Iraq, who is overseeing the care of thousands of displaced Christians who fled Islamic State jihadists, has announced ambitious plans for the church and charities to reconstruct their towns and villages. Archbishop Bashar Warda told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) recently that […]
IRAQ: CHURCHES ‘EXCLUDED’ FROM RECONSTRUCTION PLANS, SAYS REPORT
World Watch Monitor reports…