The heads of Christian Churches in the Holy Land have officially protested a renewed attempt to force them to pay certain taxes in the State of Israel. The most pressing case at the moment is related to the Armenian Church, but there are many cases involving Catholic institutions.  The Patriarchs and heads of local Churches of Jerusalem have issued an official statement condemning the most recent attempt by the Municipality of Jerusalem to force Churches to pay the municipal tax ...

Since 2021, the Diocese of Kafanchan in Nigeria has seen at least one pastoral agent murdered every year.  The bishop of the Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna State, Nigeria, has expressed his “deep sorrow and righteous indignation” over the abduction and subsequent murder of one of his priests.   Father Sylvester Okechukwu was abducted from his residence on March 4th and found murdered in the early hours of March 5th, though it is unclear why his kidnappers decided to kill him.   ...

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses its deep concern over the escalating violence in Syria, particularly in the coastal region, where hundreds of civilians have fallen victim to indiscriminate attacks. The situation has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, including for Christian communities, who have already suffered greatly over the past decade.  According to sources in Latakia close to the charity, who ACN prefers to keep anonymous for security reasons, last Friday was “a very black and ...

In South Sudan, where walking long distances is usually a sign of distress, an annual pilgrimage for peace is raising questions and changing attitudes. When Pope Francis announced his visit to South Sudan in 2022, young Catholics in the Diocese of Rumbek were naturally excited. “They kept saying they wanted to go and see him,” Sister Orla Treacy, an Irish religious with the Loreto Sisters, tells Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).   In a country like South Sudan, however, ...

On International Women’s Day, we highlight the work of a group of religious sisters from the Company of Mary in Cuba, who have managed to provide assistance to young people, the elderly, and women with the help of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).  “This is a time to share and to receive hope, to look boldly into the future,” religious sisters in Cuba, of the Company of Mary Foundation from Mexico, tell us. The island nation of Cuba ...

“We have seen plenty of improvement in these girls. They find meaning, and they can face the challenges life has for them.”  For International Women’s Day, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) spoke to Sister Marie Akl, a religious from the Congregation of the Good Shepherd, about her valuable work in the shelter for vulnerable young people in Nabaa, Lebanon, where children and adolescents manage to overcome their trauma through workshops, integral care, and even personal defense classes.   Who ...