China: Guidelines Instruct Religions How to Implement the New Patriotic Education Law

 

Pope Francis on Too Many Ecclesiastical Universities in Rome and the Challenge of What to Do About It

Jorge Enrique Mújica

What the Pope said at the beginning of 2024 is not something new. It’s a subject that is on his mind. He mentioned it also an address on February 25, 2023, to the academic communities of the Roman Pontifical Universities and Institutions. 

Israel’s crisis and divisions reflected in the Gaza war

ZENIT Staff

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political and personal fate hangs in the balance in the Gaza war. The US fears a spillover into Lebanon (and Iran). For the expert in Jewish-Christian dialogue in Israel, Israeli reality is “complex”. After an early mobilisation, rifts are now emerging. Getting the hostages home is a priority, but peace remains the goal, “Even in these dark days.”

Vicar of Arabia: from Gaza to the Houthis ‘worrying’ escalation. Close to the Christians in Yemen

ZENIT Staff

US and British air raids against pro-Iranian rebels first act of a possible widening of the war. An operation in response to assaults on ships bound for the Red Sea by the rebels. Mgr. Martinelli: difficulties in reaching “a stable equilibrium”, the “great concern” for the situation in the Holy Land remains. In Yemen “the nuns’ work for the poor and sick continues”.

China: Guidelines Instruct Religions How to Implement the New Patriotic Education Law

ZENIT Staff

The key statute on domestic indoctrination is in force since January 1. Now religions are told how they should enforce it. We offer a full English translation of the Guidelines.

Pope Francis Closes January 2024 Conferring Ministries to Laymen and Launching Year of Prayer

ZENIT Staff

Two people will receive the ministry of Lectorate and nine the ministry of Catechist. They are lay faithful that intend to represent the People of God and they come from Brazil, Bolivia, Korea, Chad, Germany and the Antilles

Lebanon: Maronite Catholic patriarch says Lebanese oppose war against Israel

ZENIT Staff

For Card Beshara al-Rahi, the Lebanese do not want an escalation on the southern border, in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Meanwhile, the United States and Europe are intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent further violence. Blinken and Borrell warn about worse to come. Hackers attack Beirut airport with messages about Hezbollah and Iran.

Craftswoman in Jesus’ City: A Syndrome Deforms Basma’s Face, But She Creates Beauty with Her Hands

ZENIT Staff

She is a young Christian Palestinian woman from Bethlehem. She suffers from a syndrome, a little known disease, which has deformed her face and body. But she creates beautiful object with her hands, which speak to us of Christmas, of Bethlehem, of the Holy Family, of the Child-God. 

USA: bishops release first report on religious freedom in the country

ZENIT Staff

The report identifies a wide range of concerns, such as federal agencies misusing laws meant to aid pregnant women in order to promote abortion, threats to the safety of our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, and hostility toward ministries serving migrants and refugees, and suggests how individuals and communities can respond.