04/23/2014RUSSIA Fear of freedom is killing the future of Russia by Marta Allevato Serghei Chapnin , director of the "Moscow Patriarchate Journal" speaks to AsiaNews about the challenges of contemporary Russian society and the contribution that Christianity can give to a real "moral change" in the country . Moscow (AsiaNews) - The need for a "moral reflection" on the nation's Soviet
past, to revive greater respect for the dignity of the human person, to teach
young people about the freedom contained in Christian thought and give...
04/23/2014SAUDI ARABIA Death toll hits 81 with 17 more MERS cases reported The number of people infected with the virus now stands at 261. Saudi King fires Health minister, who had said that MERS-related deaths had dropped by 60 per cent, that more than 20,000 people had been examined over the last few weeks, and that his ministry had done a good job.
04/23/2014VATICAN Pope warns against placing hope in "dead things" such as vanity, money and success At the General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on the Angels’ words at the tomb: "Why look among the dead for someone who is alive?". And what do I do ? Which route do I follow to encounter the living Christ . He will always be close to us to correct our course if we have gone wrong".
04/23/2014SINGAPORE - CHINA Singapore archbishop: With Benedict XVI's words pray for the Church in China by William Goh Seng Chye* Citing the Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, the bishop calls on the faithful to "reach out" to Chinese migrants living in the city-state, and show "them our genuine love and concern." On 23 May, a special prayer is set for St Bernadette Church.
04/23/2014NEPAL - UNITED NATIONS Human rights activists oppose amnesty for crimes committed during the country's civil war by Christopher Sharma The UN and other international groups are against a proposal made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Since the end of the war (2006), no one has been investigated in connection with crimes committed during the civil war. More than 16,000 people were killed during the conflict with hundreds missing and thousands wounded and injured.
04/23/2014LEBANON The difficult journey to choose Lebanon's new president starts today by Paul Dakiki Neither Geagea nor Helou are expected to get the votes needed in today's first session. Rival coalitions will have to look for a "consensus" candidate with the names of Amin Gemayel, Robert Ghanem and Michel Aoun at the top of the list.
04/23/2014SOUTH KOREA Korea’s Catholic Church continues to grow: faithful now 10.4% of the population The Bishops' Conference releases figures for the previous year: faithful now almost 5.5 million, an increase of 1.5% over the previous year. Since 2003, the statistics show a steady growth of the Catholic population.
04/23/2014VIETNAM Parents slam government as measles outbreak kills 123 children in Vietnam The country's Health Ministry comes in for criticism for hiding the extent of the outbreak and failing to take appropriate action. Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien dismisses fear-mongers, claims "only" 25 children have died so far. Some 3,430 cases have been confirmed with an additional 5,800 suspected. The World Health Organisation is closely monitoring the situation. Alarmed parents rush their children to hospital.
04/23/2014IRAN Iran, President Rouhani: End to discrimination, equal rights and opportunities for women The head of state spoke at the National Forum on Women Shaping Economy and Culture . He criticizes "those who consider the presence of women in society a threat. According to the Islamic rules, man is not the stronger sex and woman is not the weaker one".
04/23/2014INDONESIA Jakarta, new corruption scandal overwhelms Audit Agency’s Chief by Mathias Hariyadi Poernono Hadi has come under fire of the Anti-Corruption Commission (KBK) for a story in 2004 , when he was head of the Department of Taxation and Treasury. Charged with erasing million dollar tax fine for major bank owned by a Tabaco giant. A prominent personality in the political and economic landscape of the country.
04/22/2014NEPAL Everest avalanche: guides suspend all climbing operations by Christopher Sharma The decision was taken today in memory of the 16 victims, all Sherpa guides, buried in an avalanche. For locals, 18 April marks one of the worst accidents in the history of Everest mountaineering.
04/22/2014BANGLADESH Dhaka: arson razes home of Catholic family by Sumon Corraya No one was at home at the time of the fire. In 2008, the family left the village after a 14-year-old granddaughter was raped and murdered by a group of young Muslims. The owner of the house says he is "living in fear."
04/22/2014INDIA For Indian Jesuit, Narendra Modi is vindictive and a threat to India's minorities by Cedric Prakash sj The director of the Prashant Human Rights Centre recounts three incidents involving the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for whom Modi is running as candidate for the prime minister's office. For Fr Prakash, the pledge to introduce anti-conversion laws and threats against the Muslim community "show the fascist agenda" of the BJP. However, we must have hope; "the struggle will continue indeed, even if the signs are ominous."
04/22/2014VIETNAM Kontum: Easter among Vietnamese Catholics is stronger than Communist repression by TT For many communities in the diocese, Christmas and Easter are the only time when they can attend Mass. The local bishop celebrated Mass in a private home because the local administration has not allowed the construction of a place of worship. He performed the rite of the 'Washing of the Feet' to 100 people, including women and children.
Before the tomb, something completely new and unexpected happens, they draw near and they do not find the Lord's body, What was a simple act, done surely out of love - going to the tomb - has now turned into an event, a truly life-changing event. Nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of those women, but also in our own lives and in the history of mankind. Jesus is not dead, he has risen, he is alive! He does not simply return to life; rather, he is life itself, because he is the Son of God, the living God! Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future; Jesus is the everlasting "today" of God. This is how the newness of God appears to the women, the disciples and all of us: as victory over sin, evil and death, over everything that crushes life and makes it seem less human. How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead? Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness... and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!
Pope Francis
AsiaNews wishes all our friends and readers a Happy Easter 2014
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