Govt demands China return seized trawlers

VIETNAM: Vietnam has demanded the immediate return of two fishing boats seized by China in two separate incidents off a disputed island chain in the South China Sea. At a press conference in Hanoi yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said the government had demanded the return of a trawler seized on March 4 and another 10 days ago off the Paracel Islands, an archipelago which both

Bishop calls out government over kidnappings

PHILIPPINES: Bishop Martin Jumoad of Basilan today urged President Benigno Aquino to address the growing incidents of kidnappings in Mindanao. “The problem with this government is it is too much focused on the impeachment of [Chief Justice Renato Corona] and neglects other concerns,” the prelate told Radyo Veritas. At least six foreign nationals, including Lorenzo Vinsiguerra from Switzerland, Evold

Hainan ordains first priest in 60 years

CHINA: The Church in Hainan Island in southern China on May 17 ordained its first priest in 60 years and consecrated the newly built Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Haikou city. Bishop Joseph Gan Junqiu of Guangzhou ordained Father Zhang Wenmin. Two other bishops from Guangdong also participated in the ordination, which was witnessed by 600 Catholics. Father Zhang, originally from Tangshan diocese

Pope calls on China Catholics to "be faithful"

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday called on Chinese Catholics to “be faithful” to the Church and to “the Successor of Peter,” and to be “consistent” in witnessing their faith in their daily lives. Speaking after Sunday's Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Benedict recalled that on May 24, pilgrims will flock to the Sheshan Marian sanctuary near Shanghai. “We join in prayer with

Catholic youth leaders hurt in bus crash

PHILIPPINES: A group of 19 Catholic youth leaders were injured, seven of them seriously, after a bus they were traveling in careered off the road and into a gully near the town of Murcia, in Negros Occidental province on Saturday. "The brakes on the bus were faulty and we fell 10 meters into a gully," said Father Boboy Lopez who was with the group from the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Cebu City. The

Indian president lauds Catholic newspaper

INDIA: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Tuesday praised a Catholic daily newspaper for its contributions to the country's national life. Patil praised the Deepika newspaper for playing “an important role in the renaissance and reformation” in the 19th century in Kerala, where the newspaper is based, and for its efforts during the country's struggle for independence. Deepika, which celebrated

Taiwanese cardinal to undergo brain surgery

TAIWAN: Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi will undergo brain surgery Monday for cancer. Shan was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, and it was recently announced that cancerous cells have spread to his brain and lymph nodes.The 89-year-old cardinal will be treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery, a high-tech form of radiation treatment. Kaohsiung diocese has appealed to Catholics to pray for their former