The Voice of the suffering and persecuted
Cholera, terror, COVID-19: northern Mozambique bleeds from many wounds
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“The Church in Mozambique is an anchor of hope and charity in a sea of suffering and violence.”
Survey shows US Catholics’ growing concern about global persecution
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“It is heartening that, compared to a year ago, significantly more US Catholics say that Christian persecution around the world is very grave and that the issue has become a matter of concern to more faithful."
In Pakistan, the road is paved with faith and glory
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"Our parents have taught us to be silent when it comes to discourse of religion. Poor Christians cannot face mobs or expensive and lengthy court cases. Our police and lawyers are known for siding with the rich and minting money."
Church backs program protecting Pakistan’s minority girls
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"The pressure in courts from extremist groups, the biased attitude of police, the fear of harm from the abductor, and stigma force the victim to often give a statement in favor of her abductor.”
Myanmar: ‘the killings must stop at once’
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“The blood spilled is not the blood of an enemy. It is the blood of our own sisters and brothers, our own citizens."
Bangladeshi Catholic couple prays for justice for martyred son
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SUKHRANJAN HALDER, 75 AND ANNA HALDER, 70, ARE A BANGLADESHI CATHOLIC COUPLE, who have been suffering financial, physical and mental anguish since they lost their only son in a deadly bomb attack at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church of Baniarchar in Gopalganj district two decades ago. Sumon Halder, then 24, was among 10 Sunday Mass-goers killed in the June 3, 2001, attack by an Islamic terrorist group, Harkat-ul-Jihad. The blast also left dozens injured. It was the worst terror attack on minority Christians in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Sumon, who had gotten married just five months prior to the attack, was known ...
Ten years of conflict in Syria: ACN calls on international community f humanitarian aid
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ACN calls on the international community to instruct banks to accept money transfers designated for humanitarian aid, which is already provided for in the exceptions to the existing sanctions.
Small Catholic communities survive in Kyrgyzstan
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"Money is being pumped into the country byTurkey and Pakistan to promote a more radical interpretation of Islam."
In Iraq, hope that papal visit will motivate internal community
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"Thousands lined the streets to see the Pope as he drove past. Religious sisters were literally dancing on the rooftops. These were people who had come back after being forced to leave their homes because of ISIS. What the Pope saw here were truly the living stones of the Church in Iraq.”
Iraqi priest: Pope and Grand Ayatollah are peacemakers
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The Christians of Baghdad hope that the Pope’s visit will save their community from the brink of extinction. One Church official told ACN that the number of Catholics in Baghdad was no more than a few hundred, after years of threats and bombings.