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Philippines marks Easter with bloody mock crucifixions

April 6, 2013 13:05
Catholic zealots in the Philippines re-enacted the last hours of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, whipping their backs and nailing themselves to crosses in a grisly Easter ritual that persists despite Church disapproval. Foreign and local tourists flocked to the outskirts of the city of San Fernando, a 90-minute drive from Manila, to see the annual spectacle where a Christian “passion play” is taken to its blood-soaked extreme. In a vacant plot of land beneath the burning sun in the San Juan district, long nails were driven through the hands and feet of four men who took turns hang

Philippine court suspends birth control law

March 19, 2013 04:15
The Philippines' highest court suspended on Tuesday a controversial birth control law that had met fierce opposition from the powerful Catholic Church. Voting 10-5, the Supreme Court issued a four-month freeze against the law, which requires government health centres to hand out free condoms and schools to teach sex education, court spokesman Theodore Te said. The order "stops implementation of the reproductive health law for 120 days," Te said, after a closed door session of the justices.

Asian Catholics celebrate election of Pope Francis

March 14, 2013 05:00
Catholics across the Asia-Pacific celebrated Thursday the election of the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, hailing Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio as a champion of the developing world. Any disappointment that Benedict XVI's successor was not Asian appeared to be largely offset by the new Pope Francis ending the European dominance, as well as his credentials as a humble man with a deep commitment to social reforms. However, there was a word of admonishment from a group supporting victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Australia.

Asia's 'humble' candidate for pope, Cardinal Tagle

March 7, 2013 00:00
Asia's best hope for the papacy, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, is a young, electric orator who has been outspoken about the need for Catholic Church leaders to be more open and humble. Born to a working-class couple in a then-rural town two hours' drive south of the Philippine capital, Tagle rose to become Archbishop of Manila in 2011 at the age of just 54. He was named a cardinal in November last year, becoming the official chief spiritual leader to the Philippines' more than 80 million Catholics.

Asian 'quality of faith' can help Church: cardinal

February 23, 2013 10:16
The priority given by Asian Catholics to "quality of faith" over quantity of faithful can help the Church, a Philippine cardinal seen as a candidate to succeed Pope Benedict XVI said on Saturday. "Today in the ancient churches -- above all in Europe, where Christians have been the majority for centuries -- there is concern about the future of the Church," Manila archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle told La Repubblica daily.

Philippine papal bet wants people power for Church

February 20, 2013 23:45
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle wants to bring the Catholic Church closer to people, a vision his fans say comes from a genuine passion for helping the poor and one that could make him Asia's first pope. The 55-year-old cardinal from a working-class family close to the Philippine capital is being touted at home and abroad as a genuine chance to succeed Pope Benedict XVI during a historic Vatican vote next month.

Filipinos hoping Tagle will be next pope

February 12, 2013 06:32
Bishops and all Catholics in the Philippines are hoping that a Filipino will be the next pope, a senior church figure said Tuesday, as he promoted the credentials of the country's only candidate. Heads of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines held a press conference in which they expressed sadness at Monday's shock announcement by 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI that he would resign because of health reasons.

Philippines feels sympathy for pope: president's office

February 11, 2013 09:45
People across the mainly Catholic Philippines feel regret, gratitude and sympathy after Pope Benedict XVI announced plans on Monday to resign, a presidential spokesman said. "Not only the Catholic world, but all peoples and nations of goodwill are filled with great regret," one of President Benigno Aquino's spokesmen, Edwin Lacierda, said in a statement.

Philippines feels sympathy for pope: president's office

February 11, 2013 09:30
People across the mainly Catholic Philippines feel regret, gratitude and sympathy after Pope Benedict XVI announced plans on Monday to resign, a presidential spokesman said Monday. "Not only the Catholic world, but all peoples and nations of goodwill are filled with great regret," one of President Benigno Aquino's spokesmen, Edwin Lacierda, said in a statement.

Crowds of Filipinos pray to statue for health, blessings

January 9, 2013 04:45
MANILA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of barefoot Filipinos crowded around a black statue of Jesus Christ believed to bring miracles to the faithful, seeking the answer to prayers in a day-long procession through old Manila on Wednesday. Roman Catholic devotees flocked around the carriage with the wooden, life-sized statue known as the "Black Nazarene" as it crawled through the city, praying that a slight touch would bless them, healing their illnesses and those of their relatives.
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