Philippine president calls God stupid
MANILA (UCAN): Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, after spewing diatribes against Catholic bishops and priests in recent months, has turned the focus of his invectives on God.
 
Speaking during a technology summit in the southern city of Davao on June 22, Duterte said he found fault in the creation story and questioned the concept of original sin.
 

Vietnam’s new cyber law sparks concern
HANOI (AsiaNews): Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a cyber security law on June 12, giving the authorities the power to access sensitive private user data spy on users and exercise greater control over websites and social media like Facebook and Google.
 
For activists, this means loss of privacy and greater restrictions on freedom of thought. The government insists the new restrictions are necessary on national security grounds.
 

#MeToo called to support women abused for their faith
VATICAN (CNS): Under the title, #MeToo for All, Aid to the Church in Need has published an open letter to four actresses asking help in publicising the widespread sexual exploitation of women because of their faith. 
 

Pope names apostolic visitor to Medjugorje
VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis named Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser as apostolic visitor to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, for an indefinite period, the Vatican announced on May 31.
 
The retired archbishop of Warsaw-Praga, Poland, had initially sent to the town as the pope personal envoy to study the pastoral needs of the townspeople and of the thousands of pilgrims who flock to the site of the alleged Marian apparitions.
 

Pope and patriarch decry globalisation of indifference
VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, called on Christians to work together to build a culture of solidarity in the face of growing economic inequality and a lack of respect for the human dignity of the poor and of migrants. 
 

Caritas migrant shelter in Tijuana under police protection after attacks
MEXICO CITY (CNS): A Caritas-run shelter for migrants in the border city of Tijuana has been put under police protection after a robbery and arson attack on consecutive days. 
 
At least six armed individuals entered the shelter in the early morning hours of May 6 and stole some of the migrants’ meagre possessions, including cash, cellphones and identity cards. 
 

Marking 400 years since arrival of Marian image in Philippines
MANILA (SE): Marian devotees gathered at Manila’s Quirino Grandstand, in Luneta Park on May 4, for the Salubong at Traslacion (Welcome and procession), the reenactment of the arrival in the Philippines of the image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de San Sebastian from Mexico 400 years ago, CBCP News reported.
 

New document on Roman Curia imminent
VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals have reviewed a complete draft of the apostolic constitution that would govern the Roman Curia, Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, said. 
 

 
 
English and Welsh bishops concerned over gender ideology
MANCHESTER (CNS): The bishops of England and Wales have raised concerns over the rise of gender ideology, saying it is creating confusion among people about the truth of human nature.
 

Amnesty International reports decline in capital punishment
VATICAN (SE): Encouraging statistics are contained in Amnesty International’s latest report, released on April 12, according to Vatican News. The numbers show at least 993 recorded executions in 23 countries throughout 2017, down by four per cent from the previous year and down by 39 per cent from 2015.