Taiwan Bishops Invite Pope to Visit TaiwanMay 16, 2018 — ICC Note: Seven Taiwanese bishops visited Rome to meet and invite the Pope to make a historic visit to Taiwan next year, a move that would irritate China. There has been...
Rights Group Reports Intensified Crackdowns on Activists and Religious Followers in VietnamApril 5, 2018 — ICC Note: In its latest report, Amnesty International condemns Vietnam for targeting religious followers and activists over basic human rights. Among the 97 known prisoners of conscience, 57 are religious followers,...
Vatican-China Deal Won’t Be Inked Until JuneApril 4, 2018 — ICC Note: Despite multiple sources claiming that a Sino-Vatican deal would be reached around Easter, Catholic news agency UCA reports that for the two sides to agree on the terms...
Rights Group Calls Attention to Vietnam’s Violent ‘Red Flags’ GroupsMarch 29, 2018 — ICC Note: U.S.-based rights group Boat People SOS (BPSOS) is calling attention to Vietnam’s government-sponsored ‘Red Flag’ groups, for they continue to harass religious communities and dissidents in Vietnam. Many...
Indonesian Catholics Asked to Stay Alert During Holy WeekMarch 15, 2018 — ICC Note: Ahead of the observance for Holy Week, church officials in Indonesia are calling on Catholics to stay alert against the backdrop of recent church attacks. Just three months...
Possible Terror Attacks During Holy Week in the PhilippinesMarch 8, 2018 — ICC Note: Philippine military spokesperson warns that a new capable leader of Islamic State group has emerged and might carry out attacks. The possibility of attack is high as his...
Taipei Archbishop Doesn’t Think Vatican-China Deal Will Lead to Diplomatic TiesFebruary 27, 2018 — ICC Note: The Holy See and China seem to be finalizing a deal over bishop appointment in China, which many see as a move closer to establishing diplomatic relations between the...
Nearly 50,000 Chinese Catholics Baptized in 2017February 25, 2018 — ICC Note: In spite of religious persecution, the Catholic Church in China registered nearly 50,000 baptisms last year according to a Vatican agency. Hebei province once again has the most baptisms...
Bishop in Lanzhou Commemorates His Predecessor Amidst CriticismFebruary 22, 2018 — ICC Note: Chinese bishop Giuseppe Han Zhihai of Lanzhou was an underground bishop until he was officially recognized by the government last November. A commemoration of his predecessor, bishop Filippo Yang...
Muslims and Catholics Come Together After St. Lidwina AttackFebruary 22, 2018 — ICC Note: St Lidwina Church in Yogyakarta, the scene of a February 11 sword attack that injured four in attendance, held a Mass to restore faith and strengthen the morale of...
North Korean Defector Mi Jin’s Journey to CatholicismFebruary 19, 2018 — ICC Note: North Korean defector Mi Jin Kang, a reporter at the Daily NK, shares her story of how she became a Catholic after she escaped her motherland to make...
Online Petition Opposing Vatican Deal with China Targeted in Chinese CyberattackFebruary 15, 2018 — ICC Note: Chinese hackers based in Tianjin have targeted an online petition initiated by Catholics in Hong Kong who oppose the proposed Vatican deal with China. The petition website had been...
Dutch Priest Among Four Injured in St. Lidwina Church AttackFebruary 13, 2018 — ICC Note: An 81-year-old Dutch priest was among the victims of a sword attack at St. Lidwina Church, Yogyakarta on February 11. A radicalized college student went on a rampage...
Chinese Catholics Shocked by China-Vatican DealFebruary 7, 2018 — ICC Note: Chinese Catholics are shocked and angered by the decision of the Vatican to sign an agreement with the Communist government over the appointment of bishops. An accord of...
Catholic Led Protests in DRC Led to Bloodshed by Government ForcesJanuary 23, 2018 — ICC Note The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has led protests against President Kabila. The president, who was supposed to step down in 2016, given an extra...
Security heightened before the procession of the Black Nazarene in PhilippinesJanuary 7, 2018 — ICC Note: Philippines heightens security ahead of the procession of the Black Nazarene, expected to be joined by millions of devotees next Tuesday. Although there has been no terrorist threat...
