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Journalists, writers, reporters, commentators have been silenced for speaking and exposing the truth. Since 1986, 177 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Philippines, making the country one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Fake news is plainly propaganda to misinform and shape the minds of target audiences. Fake news is nothing new as this began from the time of Adam and Eve. Now is the time for those tasked to evangelize to study and act on how to deal with fake news.
Imprisoned in Vietnam for 13 years, nine of them in solitary confinement, Cardinal Francis Van Thuan represents the resilience and fidelity of Catholics who suffered persecution because of their faith. Last year, Pope Francis recognized his heroic virtues placing him on the road to sainthood.
The panorama of Christian communities across Asia does not present a coherent picture to the outside observer, and the persecution of Christians is varied in these countries. It is difficult to generalize, except within national boundaries.
After the communist party assumed power in China (October 1, 1949), the authorities unleashed a season of persecution and suffering against Catholics, both foreign missionaries and local clergy, religious and faithful. It was the time of the most violent persecution.
The identity of the Baclaran Church lies on the intimate relationship between devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and mission. The Shrine renders various services to the thousands of devotees who come every Wednesday for novenas and masses.
At the core of the Baclaran devotion is the perpetual novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The novena stresses the social and missionary dimensions, urging the devotees to pray for the community and society and be actively involved in evangelization.
Baclaran Church went through several stages of growth in becoming home to the biggest shrine in the world dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Today, 150,000 devotees flock to the National Shrine every week seeking God’s mercy through the Blessed Mother.
For its decade-long advocacy that culminated in the adoption of a landmark global treaty to ban nuclear weapons, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Will the treaty pave the way for the elimination of one of the greatest threats to human existence?
In recent history, a few committed citizens contributed a great deal to the cause of peace. They are inspiring examples to the world. The memories of their prophetic personalities should remain alive as a reminder for all of the need to work for peace.
