Cardinal-designate Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, who will become the first cardinal from Laos, is an ethnic Khmu, a hill tribe from northern Laos and southern China.
Asia
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Gunmen take priest and other hostages; Philippines’ Duterte imposes martial law
Gunmen claiming to have links with the Islamic State group threatened to kill hostages, including a Catholic priest, who were taken from the southern Philippine city of Marawi on May 23.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Indonesian Christian governor sentenced to two years for blaspheming the Quran
An Indonesian court sentenced the minority Christian governor of Jakarta to two years in prison on Tuesday for blaspheming the Quran.
Posted inFaith, News
Indonesians call for jailing of Christian governor
Thousands of conservative Muslims took to the streets of the Indonesian capital to call for the jailing of its minority Christian governor.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Myanmar and Holy See Establish Diplomatic Relations
The Vatican made the announcement after a meeting between Pope Francis and Aung San Suu Kyi, de facto leader of Myanmar.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
The Philippine bishop who is standing up to Duterte
“Filing a complaint at the ICC is a good move for the whole world to know that crimes against humanity, seemingly sanctioned by the government, are being committed in this Christian country,” said Bishop Bastes.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Early results show defeat for Jakarta’s Christian governor
The polarizing campaign gave hard-line Islamic groups a national stage and has undermined Indonesia’s reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam.
Posted inFaith, News
Arsonists strike cathedral in Nepal capital
Father Ignatius Rai, pastor of the cathedral parish, said “unknown persons” broke into the church premises and started a fire that partially damaged the priest’s residence and the western part of the church.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Philippine archbishop rebukes those who say, ‘I am Catholic, but …’
“How many of our Catholics openly and blatantly declare, ‘I am a Catholic, but I agree that drug addicts must be killed; they are useless,'” the archbishop said.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Civil conflicts the most pressing issue in Myanmar, Cardinal says
Continued ethnic conflicts mar the fledgling democracy in Myanmar, which recently witnessed the inauguration of President U Htin Kyaw.