The new rules are the latest in a string of regulations that many in the Chinese Church believe are designed to stymie worship, the operations of parishes and dioceses as well as the growth of the church.

An Australian diocese will pay up towards $2 million (in U. S. dollars) in compensation for a claim filed against a priest for clerical sexual abuse in the early 1990s.

Two more Australian states have passed legislation criminalizing priests who fail to report the abuse of children disclosed during confession.

The Australian Catholic Church has released its National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, more than 18 months after they were recommended by the country's landmark Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, in the latest chapter in the overhaul of how the church responds to clergy sexual abuse.

Churches and governments throughout South Asia and Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly concerned with the continued threats from Isis-inspired groups and persons, given the growing number of church bombings.

Victims of child sexual abuse in Australia decried the lenient sentence of 6 years which was handed down in the Cardinal Pell case. The victims view the upcoming June appeal hearing as adding further pain and insult to victims' sufferings.

Cardinal George Pell of Australia's appeal of his conviction on sexual abuse charges has been fast-tracked to June so it can be heard. He is presently in jail and by the time his appeal is decided, he will have been imprisoned for 3 months.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon said the country's church has adopted a "zero tolerance" approach to sexual abuse in church institutions and by clergy.

In an instance of a new atmosphere of accommodation between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist authorities, the Vatican has announced that it has recognized two previously excommunicated bishops as heads of dioceses and the Chinese Communist authorities have not interfered with the Vatican's right to handle church affairs in China.

Although China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops in September, persecution of Chinese Catholics continues.