FABC Communication INFO Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences – Office of Social Communication OSC 1916 CTM Bldg. Oroquieta Street Sta. Cruz, Manila 1003 Philippines Tel: (632) 7327170, 3138577 Fax: 7327171 Email: [email protected] PAKISTAN: COMIC BOOK SEEKS TO ADDRESS BANGLADESH: VOCATION EXHIBIT HELD EXTREMISM This year’s Vocation Exhibition organized by the Dinajpur Paasban (Guardian) comic book creators Mustafa Hasnain Diocesan Priests’ Fraternity and the Bangladesh Conference of and Gauhar Aftab in Lahore distributed 15,000 copies of the the Religious was held at Dinajpur Cathedral in the May 16-17 book from June 1 to schools in Lahore city, Multan and weekend. The event drew about 1,000 students and thousands Lodhran. The aim is to help young people understand that Islam more priests and religious who saw pictures, paintings and is a non-violent religion. Through the comic book series, society publications displayed by several religious associations and is hoped to be rid of violent extremism and that young readers congregations. The diocese of Dinajpur was chosen to host this may discover the “real” Islam of peace. (UCANEWS) annual event in 2015 because religious vocations are increasing TAIWAN: ‘LAN YANG DANCE GROUP’ AND in tribal communities and the Catholic Diocese of Dinajpur is TRADITIONAL ART the largest in the tribal areas. (ASIANEWS) Fr. Gian Carlo Michelini dedicated his life to educating young CHINA: EXHIBIT SHOWCASES MISSION PIONEERS people through culture, art and dance. In 1966, he set up Lan More than 1,500 people visited the Exhibition of Historical Yang Dance Group, which later became Lan Yang Luodong Catholic Objects held at the Diocesan Formation Centre in Catholic Centre for Youth in Yilan district. In 1973, the group Hebei province April 30-May 12. The event co-organized by the had a performance and audience with Pope Paul VI. In 1991, the Diocesan Museum of Archaeology aimed to strengthen faith. group finished third at the International Festival of Folk Dance Among the 350 historical objects on display were relics of 15 in Spain. “The most important human and Christian values can Saints, including St. Vincent de Paul, St. John Vianney, and a be communicated through art,” the priest said. “The beauty of relic donated by Pope Pius XI to Msgr. Cui Shouxunh, one of artistic expression often communicates much more than a the first six Chinese Bishops consecrated by Pope Pius XI in St. difficult speech.” (ASIANEWS) Peter’s on October 28, 1926. (FIDES) HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDY TAIWAN: CATHOLIC TEACHERS TAKE ON GROUP CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE On their 25th anniversary, members of the United Chinese The annual meeting of Catholic teachers in Taiwan took place Catholic Biblical Association reaffirm their dedication to in Taipei April 15-17 with more than 70 educators from all over studying and praying with Scripture. Pope Francis conveyed his the island. The participants gathered to reflect, discuss, share, apostolic blessing to the association, which has grown from its learn and plan on the theme “The Gospel of the Family” in the birthplace Hong Kong. The Hong Kong chapter of the educational context. The second day focused on the need to organization is hosting workshops corresponding to the 73 foster communication with the young people and to update books of the Bible. (CNA) themselves to the digital age. (ASIANEWS) CHINA: CATHOLICS, PROTESTANTS HIT BACK ON BANGLADESH: CATHOLICS LEARN TO TALK TO CROSS RESTRICTIONS PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS Over the past 18 months authorities forcibly removed at least The Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and 470 crosses and destroyed more than 35 churches in Zhejiang Interreligious Dialogue (Ec-Cuird) organized a meeting on May province. Because of this, Catholic and Protestant leaders have 18-23 at Caritas headquarters in Khulna, Bangladesh’s third criticized the legislation that sanctions the move and reduces the largest city. More than 60 participants of the meeting – appearance of Church crosses. The law “blasphemes the including priests and nuns – learned “greater skills in the field foundational belief of Christianity” and violates China’s of interreligious dialogue” and “how they should behave with constitution in respect to freedom of religious belief, a people of other faiths.” (ASIANEWS) Protestant Church in the province said. (CN) CHINA: UNIVERSITY BANS MUSLIM HEADSCARVES SINGAPORE: CANOSSIANS MARK ANNIVERSARIES Shaanxi Normal University in Xian, a city with a large Islamic THROUGH SONG population, has reportedly told nine female Muslims to remove The Canossian Sisters, together with four Canossian schools their veils in April and then issued a notice banning Islamic held a choral festival on April 10 to celebrate the 180th headscarves in early May. Another male student was also anniversary of St. Magdalene of Canossa’s passing (foundress reportedly accused of “illegal preaching” after he was caught of the Canossians) and the 15th anniversary of the canonization reading the Qur’an in a cafeteria at the same university in April. of St. Josephine Bakhita. Titled “One Heart, One Voice,” the “We accept their customs… (but) bottom line is that we do not choral performance was held at St. Joseph’s Church and was allow students to engage in religious activities,” Li Chenzi, a attended by 800 people including Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop university official said. (UCANEWS) Leopoldo Girelli. (CN) FABC-OSC Communication INFO June 2015 Vol. 30 No. 6 INDONESIA: DIOCESES HOLD MEDIA SEMINARS IN SINGAPORE: ‘SG50 JOY’ WEBSITE LAUNCHED VIEW OF WORLD COMMUNICATION DAY To commemorate 50 years as a sovereign nation, the SG50 In May, the Diocese of Manokwari-Sorong, in West Papua, Joy website (sg50.catholic.org.sg) was launched on June 1 with eastern Indonesia, hosted an event related to the Day of Social details of activities, information as well as prayer petitions. Red Communications promoted by the Social Communication and white banners have also gone up at all parishes asking Commission of the Bishops’ Conference (KWI Kosmos). In the parishioners to pray for the nation. “Joy” is the essence of the same month, Jakarta Archdiocese held a special Mass and occasion and the word is part of the SG50 logo. (CN) screening of the film Tunes for Asia to help strengthen the CHINA: CRACKDOWN ON STRIPPERS AT FUNERALS “culture of life” and cooperation among young people from The government’s Ministry of Culture has announced April 23 different ethnic groups. A crowd also attended a seminar on new a crackdown on strippers at funerals a common practice in the media and family organized by Komsos KWI in Central Jakarta. countryside designed to attract mourners. The practice is a Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. modern twist on traditional funerals where the number of Christians represent 5.7 per cent of the population with attendees, noise and length of ceremony are the measures of Catholics just over 3.6 per cent. (ASIANEWS) success. (SE) THAILAND: RELICS OF SAINTS JOHN XXIII AND MALAYSIA: BIBLES WITH WORD ‘ALLAH’ TO BE JOHN PAUL II LIGHT FIRES OF FAITH BARRED The Catholic faithful took part in the tour of the sacred relics A new set of guidelines being proposed by the government of St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II. The reliquaries of St. will bar Malay-language Bibles with the word “Allah” from John XXIII and St. John Paul II were brought to various Peninsular Malaysia, going against the pledge by Prime parishes of ten dioceses. St. John XXIII received Thailand’s Minister Najib Razak in April 2011 to allow the holy books to king and queen at the Vatican on October 1, 1960. St. John Paul be distributed nationwide. The draft standard operating II met the king on May 10, 1984 during his apostolic visit to procedure (SOP) was unveiled by the Prime Minister’s Thailand. In May 2014, Archbishop emeritus of Bangkok, Department to Christian leaders in Sabah and Sarawak in April, Cardinal Michael Michai Kitboonchu and bishops of the and to the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) on May 18. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand attended a special PAKISTAN: SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS INCITING ANGER audience granted by the king. The bishops brought the two REVIEWED relics of Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II to the The Pakistani Bishops’ National Commission for Justice and monarchs to pray for good health. (CNA) Peace (NCJP) presented at a May 19 conference the findings of CHINA: PRESIDENT URGES RELIGIONS TO SHUN its major survey on references found in school textbooks that FOREIGN INFLUENCES “inculcate hatred” towards minorities. In order to stop religious President Xi Jinping on May 20 urged China’s religions to extremism and promote peace, NCJP has called for their shun foreign influence amid concerns over Islamic extremism removal. The conference held in Lahore on “Uprooting and the role of The Vatican among the country’s growing Religious Intolerance through Formal Educational System in Church community. Xi said that the government must value Pakistan” drew many intellectuals, educators and human rights religious leaders and in turn direct them to better serve China’s activists. (ASIANEWS) development and unification, a reference to restive Xinjiang and PHILIPPINES: ARCHBISHOP WELCOMES NEW Tibet. “Active efforts should be made to incorporate religions in CATECHISTS socialist society,” Xi said in his speech to the United Front Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo welcomed the graduates Work Department, an agency tasked with aligning groups with of the Summer Catechetical Institute on May 16 saying: “The the aims of the Communist Party. (UCANEWS) time to bring change in our Archdiocese has come with the help PHILIPPINES: CATHOLIC ARTWORK ON DISPLAY of new and certified catechists.” “You can help the priests… in The National Museum in Manila celebrated National Heritage teaching the faith and way to salvation.” The Jaro Archdiocesan Month of May showcasing Christian-themed artwork dating Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education (ACCCE) back to the 17th and 19th centuries.