Virgin Mary Statue Vandalized in Myanmar’s Shan State

January 23, 2020 — 01/23/2020 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – According to local sources, a statue of the Virgin Mary in Shan state’s Pinlaung Township was destroyed by a group of people who shot...

Catholics in West Sumatra Will Not Celebrate Christmas This Year

December 22, 2019 — 12/22/2019 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – While Christmas will be celebrated widely at chapels and churches in the West, not so in West Sumatra, Indonesia. According to BBC Indonesia, a...

Vietnamese Catholic Refugees in Bangkok Risk Deportation to See Pope Francis

December 13, 2019 — 12/13/2019 Thailand (International Christian Concern) – From November 20 to November 23, Catholics in Thailand were thrilled to see Pope Francis in their country, as the last pope to visit...

Church Charity Event in Southern Vietnam Halted by the Police

December 4, 2019 — 12/04/2019 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – An event organized by the Catholic Church for disabled South Vietnamese veterans in the southern province of Tien Giang, received unexpected guests this week...

Japanese Catholics in 16th Century Forced to Trample on Christ

November 27, 2019 — 11/27/2019 Japan (International Christian Concern) – Pope Francis’ recent visit to Japan helps shed light on the nation’s little known past – a period where the Japanese Catholics were forced...

China Intensified Crackdown Against “Disobedient Catholics” Amid Hong Kong Protests

October 5, 2019 — 10/05/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – As anti-extradition law protests continue to escalate in Hong Kong, the Chinese government is targeting underground Catholics in China who refuse to join official...

Pilgrims Flock to Save Taiyuan’s Shrine from Demolition

September 17, 2019 — 09/17/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on September 15 every year by Chinese Catholics – Thousands of faithful would come on...

Philippine President Duterte: No Need to Celebrate Arrival of Christianity

September 9, 2019 — 09/09/2019 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – On Friday, Sept. 6, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated that there is no need to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Catholic majority...

No Summer Camps for Young Chinese Catholics

August 6, 2019 — 08/06/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – In summertime, churches around the world traditionally host summer camps or Bible school for the next generation of believers. However, it has not been...

Philippine Catholics Stand Behind Bishops Accused by President Duterte

August 2, 2019 — 08/02/2019 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – About 3,000 church workers, students and parishioners from a northern Philippines archdiocese carried placards with messages expressing support for Archbishop Socrates Villegas and other...

Philippine Police Seek Sedition Charges Against Clergy, Duterte Critics

July 22, 2019 — 07/22/2019 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – Last week, Philippine authorities filed charges of inciting sedition, cyber libel, libel and obstruction of justice against four Catholic bishops, three priests, a religious...

Philippines Anticipates Holy Week With Heightened Security

April 11, 2019 — 04/11/2019 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – Philippine police is deploying up to 11,600 police officers to secure bus terminals, airports, seaports, churches and other pilgrimage sites ahead of Holy Week...

Shaanxi Government Demolishes the Only Parish in Qianyang

April 6, 2019 — 04/05/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – On April 4, the government in Shaanxi province forcibly demolished the only parish in Qianyang city. The two-story building was reduced to a pile...

Philippine President Duterte’s Attack on Church Could Backfire in Midterm Elections

March 29, 2019 — 03/29/2019 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – According to several opposition senatorial aspirants, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's attacks against God, the Church and its bishops are pushing angry Filipino Catholics to...

Pope Francis Unlikely to Meet Chinese President Xi Jinping

March 22, 2019 — 03/22/2019 Holy See (International Christian Concern) – Chinese President Xi Jinping paid his first visit to Italy on Thursday, 6 months after the historic deal between the Vatican and China...

Philippines Arrests Main Suspect of Jolo Cathedral Bombing

February 4, 2019 — 02/04/2019 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde announced on Monday, February 4 that the man believed to be the main suspect in the deadly...