Cambodian lawmakers unanimously approved a constitutional amendment permitting the government to revoke citizenship. The change, supported by Prime Minister Hun Manet and Justice Minister Koeut Rith, replaces previous protections against deprivation of nationality. Officials state the measure targets treason and collaboration with foreign powers. However, rights groups, including Amnesty International, warn the law could be misused to silence critics and create stateless individuals. The move follows calls by former leader Hun Sen amid tensions with Thailand and recent imprisonments of opposition figures. A draft implementing law is expected soon.
About 40 young people from South Korea and other countries participated in a four-day pilgrimage along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea from July 10 to 13. Organized by the Korea Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul, the event aimed to promote peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Participants visited sites including the Odusan Unification Tower and Jangsan Observatory, reflecting on the division between North and South. Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung stated the initiative supports the Church's Jubilee Year activities and prepares youth for the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul. The group emphasized that global peace requires stability on the peninsula.
A unity council in Bangladesh alleges that the interim government has ignored a surge in violence against religious minorities. The group documented thousands of incidents, including murders and vandalism, occurring over a specific period. A general secretary stated that victims, often political supporters, face impunity while authorities dismiss their concerns. The council also criticized the exclusion of minority representatives from reform commissions. While the government acknowledges a smaller number of incidents and arrests, the group claims no meaningful prosecutions have occurred. This report highlights the severe challenges faced by religious minorities in the region under the current administration.
Following severe floods in a region of Guizhou Province last month, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association directed Jinde Charities to support disaster relief. Starting July 1, the charity deployed thirty professionals to conduct disinfection in over ten villages and communities. According to xinde.org, the operation covered eighty-five thousand square meters and benefited more than twenty thousand residents. The initiative, which cost one hundred ten thousand yuan, targeted specific areas after road clearing was completed. Relief efforts remain ongoing in the affected region.
Yisca Harani, founder of the Religious Freedom Data Center, criticized recent settler attacks on Christians in Israel and the West Bank. She warned that Jewish supremacist ideology is gaining support from high-level political figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The village of Taybeh faced arson attacks on its cemetery and historic church. Harani noted that her organization documented over 50 incidents between April and June, mostly in Jerusalem. She argued that government policies encourage this violence and that most Israeli citizens remain unaware of the crisis. Church leaders plan to visit the affected areas to raise awareness.
The MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon Season 2 concluded on July 13 in Thailand. Held at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Training Center near Bangkok, the event gathered students aged 13 to 19 from 12 Catholic schools. Co-organized by the Catholic Education Council of Thailand and LiCAS News, the three-day program focused on social issues like climate change and migrant labor. Participants received mentorship to develop solutions for the common good. The Regina Coeli College team won seed funding for a family communication app. Dr. Thierry Bonaventura of the Vatican Synod praised the event as a sacred space for collaboration. The initiative aims to expand to the Philippines and Indonesia.
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The Diocese of Hong Kong blessed a new sculpture titled “Hold it Together” by artist Timothy Schmalz at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Shek Kip Mei. This marks the fourth installation in the Ordinary Jubilee 2025 series. The artwork depicts Jesus embracing a homeless person and serves as a visual reminder to care for the vulnerable. Vicar general Father Joseph Chan led the ceremony, urging Catholics to recognize Christ in the suffering. Over 100 attendees, including representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, discussed service to the poor and the Church’s outreach efforts for low-wage workers and the elderly.
Monsignor Indunil Kodithuwakku, secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, called for faith communities to act as bridge builders during a conference in Singapore. Speaking at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies, he emphasized that simple acts of kindness and mutual listening can foster goodwill in multicultural settings. Kodithuwakku cited his experiences in Sri Lanka, where exchanging meals between Catholic and Muslim neighbors built trust. He argued that religion is often a scapegoat for conflicts rooted in socio-economic inequalities and political polarization. The official urged a culture of encounter based on respect rather than debate to heal societal divisions. (Source: Catholic News SG)
The Catholic Near East Welfare Association and the Near East Council of Churches distributed fresh vegetable parcels to 444 displaced Christian and Muslim families in the Gaza Strip. Joseph Hazboun, the regional director, stated the initiative aimed to provide minimum food security amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The aid, funded by a US$37,000 grant, was delivered via closed trucks to prevent looting due to acute insecurity. Recipients included families sheltering at the Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church. This effort occurs as the United Nations reports alarming malnutrition levels and ongoing violence hinders broader humanitarian access.
Indonesia’s national school feeding program, launched in January by President Prabowo Subianto, aims to serve 82 million children by 2029 to combat malnutrition. While Catholic missionary Father Alfonsus Widhiwiryawan praises its nutritional benefits in remote areas like Papua, the initiative faces significant criticism. Reports of food poisoning in schools, including a severe case in Bandung, have raised safety concerns. Critics and organizations like Indonesia Corruption Watch allege the rollout was rushed and lacks transparency, with links to political allies. Consequently, the budget has been reduced, and many parents and experts are calling for a pause to evaluate the program's safety and accountability.
Thirty university students from across Indonesia participated in a four-day Ignatian Spirituality immersion program in Yogyakarta, Central Java, last June. Organized by Jesuit seminarians and the Bhumiksara Foundation, the initiative aimed to help students integrate faith into daily life through social engagement. Participants visited the Pingit shelter to interact with underprivileged children, emphasizing mutual learning over charity. The program sought to provide tools for discernment and leadership, encouraging scholars to serve marginalized communities. Royani Ping, director of the foundation, highlighted the goal of fostering justice and solidarity among future leaders in Indonesia.
Over 70 students from 12 Catholic schools in Thailand gathered at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Training Center in Nakhon Pathom on July 11, 2025, for the second season of the MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon. Co-organized by the Catholic Education Council of Thailand and LiCAS News, the three-day event invites mostly Buddhist youth to develop solutions for social challenges through a synodal approach. Participants engaged in storytelling exercises and heard from mentors, including resilience advocate Nitcharee Peneakchanasak. The initiative aims to foster collaboration and innovation, with plans to expand to the Philippines and Indonesia in future years.
In a center in Jharkhand, India, the memory of Jesuit priest Stan Swamy is preserved. Swamy died in 2021 after detention on terrorism charges later proven false. The organization continues his advocacy for Indigenous Adivasi communities facing land threats from mining and reduced public education. Staff members maintain this grassroots effort by teaching villagers their legal rights and supporting resistance against corporate exploitation. The work highlights ongoing struggles for justice and resource protection in the region, honoring Swamy’s commitment to marginalized populations.
Andrew Goh, an 88-year-old catechist in Singapore, has spent 34 years teaching Catholic faith to elderly individuals who speak dialects. He uses a scooter to visit the housebound and conducts classes at Novena Church and the Church of the Holy Family. Goh speaks seven languages, including Hokkien and Cantonese, to reach those neglected by standard English or Mandarin programs. He has helped over 2,000 people receive baptism. Despite challenges like participant dropout, he continues his ministry, noting that the Church could attract more retired workers with financial support. Participants report deepened faith understanding through his accessible teaching methods.
A Maronite Archbishop in Syria reported heightened anxiety among local Christians following a deadly church attack in the capital. He cited threatening graffiti in another city and leaflets demanding the cleansing of Christians as evidence of escalating danger. Although the government has promised security, confidence remains low due to the influence of armed groups and Islamist moral policing. The archbishop noted that economic hardship and instability are driving many young people to emigrate. While he met with the country's president, he expressed uncertainty about the government's ability to ensure safety or economic recovery despite shifting international alliances.
The second season of the MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon begins July 11, 2025, in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and will expand to the Philippines in October. Organized by the Catholic Education Council of Thailand and LiCAS News, the event challenges school-aged participants to propose innovative solutions to local community issues. Inspired by startup formats, teams work for three days to identify challenges and pitch ideas for a funding pool of approximately 14,000 euros. The initiative aims to engage young people in the Church’s synodal journey by encouraging them to address social suffering. Future seasons are planned for Indonesia and other Asian countries, building on the success of the first Thai cohort.
Sr. Monrudee Roekmaneechai, a Catholic nun in Thailand, received the St. Francis of Assisi Award for her environmental leadership. The honor was presented at Parliament House in Bangkok on July 1 by Archbishop Peter B. Wells. Sr. Monrudee transformed land in Ratchaburi province into a learning center focused on soil conservation and waste reduction. The award recognizes her commitment to ecological stewardship inspired by Pope Francis. Archbishop Wells emphasized the spiritual connection to nature during the ceremony. The project also honored youth participants for their videos on sustainability.
Tens of thousands of Catholics gathered at the Jatidiri Sport Stadium in Central Java, Indonesia, on Sunday to mark the 85th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Semarang. The event featured Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, who highlighted the archdiocese's historical role in securing Vatican recognition of Indonesian independence. Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko praised early catechists and noted the archdiocese's pioneering pastoral initiatives. Attendees included other cardinals, bishops, and Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng, who emphasized the city's openness to diverse faiths. The celebration underscored the archdiocese's enduring influence on the Catholic Church in Indonesia.
Bishop Joseph Nguyễn Đức Cường of Thanh Hóa has praised Vietnam’s recent decision to abolish the death penalty for eight criminal offenses. The National Assembly approved the amendments to the Penal Code on June 25, with changes taking effect on July 1, 2025. In a pastoral letter released on June 29, Bishop Cường described the move as a humane and progressive step that aligns with international conventions and protects human dignity. He urged the government to continue reforms toward complete abolition, citing Catholic teaching and Pope Francis’s calls for the sanctity of life. The Commission for Justice and Peace hopes for further rehabilitative justice measures.
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