{"id":77184,"date":"2026-04-09T00:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/?p=77184"},"modified":"2026-04-09T00:03:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:03:00","slug":"zambia-bishops-instruct-clergy-and-faithful-to-stay-out-of-partisan-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/zambia-bishops-instruct-clergy-and-faithful-to-stay-out-of-partisan-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"Zambia bishops instruct clergy and faithful to stay out of partisan politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is a roundup of world news you may have missed this past week:<\/p>\n

Zambia bishops instruct clergy and faithful to stay out of partisan politics<\/h2>\n

Catholic bishops in Zambia issued a pastoral letter this past week telling priests to refrain from engaging in party politics as preparations for the country\u2019s August presidential and general elections begin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church is not and must never be a mouthpiece for any political party or candidate. Our duty is to form consciences, promote the common good, and speak truth to power,\u201d the letter<\/a> stated, adding that \u201cclergy who align themselves with political interests risk compromising their sacred vocation.\u201d <\/p>\n

The bishops further emphasized that Church property should never be used for political campaigns or meetings, that priests should never accept political donations in exchange for influence, and that preaching from the pulpit remain centered on the Gospel rather than politics.<\/p>\n

Vietnam has an abundance of priests, lack of missionaries, report says<\/h2>\n

The Catholic Church in Vietnam is facing a critical lack in missionaries despite having massive vocational growth, a report this week said.<\/p>\n

There is \u201ca dire shortage of the missionary spirit required to reach the \u2018peripheries\u2019\u201d in Vietnam, according to a UCA News article<\/a> on Tuesday by Catholic commentator Petrus Po. <\/p>\n

Though the country in January welcomed 76 new transitional deacons, who are all expected to be ordained in the next year to the priesthood, Po observed that Vietnam\u2019s clergy are heavily concentrated in urban centers, leaving areas such as the Central Highlands and northwestern areas to \u201cwait months for a single Mass.\u201d <\/p>\n

Amid shortages in rural areas, Po said the local Church should \u201cembrace\u201d the Vietnamese bishops\u2019 designation of 2026 as the year of \u201cEvery Christian as a Missionary Disciple\u201d by sending more priests to live in rural areas rather than merely \u201clending\u201d them.<\/p>\n

Rising violence in Pakistan prompts increased worry among Christians<\/h2>\n

Catholics in Pakistan are experiencing heightened anxiety as conflict between armed militant separatist groups and Pakistan\u2019s security forces continues to strike closer to home.<\/p>\n

Amar Mansoor Bhatti, a 35-year old Catholic man, told UCA news<\/a> that he awoke to the sound of gunfire and explosions this past week from the armed clash that has left more than 190 people dead including civilians. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe firing continued for more than eight hours until late afternoon. We stayed inside. We were afraid to step outside the house until Sunday morning [Feb. 1],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The ongoing violence has included suicide bombing attacks, grenade strikes, gunfire, and more. A Christian woman, Maria Shamoon, was abducted from her home in Balochistan by separatists before being later rescued, the report noted.<\/p>\n

Kenya bishop cautions politicians against disrespecting places of worship<\/h2>\n

The auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wote, Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, has cautioned politicians against showing disrespect to places of worship, warning that such actions amount to mocking God and undermining the sanctity of the churches in Kenya, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kamomoe issued a stern rebuke of political figures during his homily on Sunday following an attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a Sunday church service at St. Peter\u2019s Anglican Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, saying: \u201cThe leaders of this country don\u2019t respect the sanctuaries of the Lord \u2026 That is mocking God, that is contempt, which is very unfortunate, and if they don\u2019t change, they will see the results.\u201d<\/p>\n

Filipino priest tapped to serve as new auxiliary bishop for Perth Archdiocese<\/h2>\n

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Philippine-born priest Father Nelson Po to serve as an auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Perth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a big surprise to me. It was overwhelming and surreal because I have never dreamed of becoming a bishop. I went straight to the chapel and became very emotional. I felt so inadequate and unworthy, but I know that God\u2019s strength will carry me through,\u201d Nelson said regarding the news of his appointment, according to a Feb. 2 press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Australian Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, SDB, welcomed the announcement, saying Nelson is \u201cgreeted with great joy and excitement by the whole Catholic community of the archdiocese.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shifts in Syria\u2019s Jazira region: Calm returns, crises remain<\/h2>\n

The entry of Syrian security forces into Qamishli, following similar deployments in Hasakah and Ayn al-Arab, marks a tangible step in implementing understandings between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces under international pressure, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For local Christians and other communities, the move has brought cautious relief, particularly with the end of compulsory service previously imposed under the label of \u201cself-defense duty.\u201d Yet stability on paper contrasts sharply with daily realities. <\/p>\n

Church sources report that around 12% of Jazira\u2019s Christians emigrated in 2025, driven by insecurity and crushing costs, while those who remain face severe water shortages, near-total groundwater depletion, prolonged power cuts, environmental pollution, and persistent security incidents. <\/p>\n

Eastern Christian youth thrive in the Australian diaspora<\/h2>\n

From Melbourne to Auckland, young people from Eastern Churches are finding creative ways to live their faith far from their ancestral homelands, ACI MENA recently reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Syriac Catholic youth festival in Australia combined prayer, theater, and open discussion on anxiety, technology, and Christian identity, drawing strong participation.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Chaldean youth gatherings in Australia and New Zealand focused on strengthening communion, daily liturgical life, and reflection on faith within multicultural societies. These initiatives show that, even in the diaspora, Eastern Christian youth are not merely preserving tradition but actively reshaping it for new contexts.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.ewtnnews.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/zambia-bishops-instruct-clergy-and-faithful-to-stay-out-of-partisan-politics<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here is a roundup of world news you may have missed this past week: Zambia bishops instruct clergy and faithful to stay out of partisan politics Catholic bishops in Zambia issued a pastoral letter this past week telling priests to refrain from engaging in party politics as preparations for the country\u2019s August presidential and general [\u2026]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-77184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-news"],"mb":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55821,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/u-s-catholic-bishops-church-will-not-endorse-political-candidates-despite-irs-shift\/","url_meta":{"origin":77184,"position":0},"title":"U.S. Catholic bishops: Church will not endorse political candidates despite IRS shift","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"12 \u043d\u043e\u044f\u0431\u0440\u044f, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"United States Conference of Catholic Bishops headquarters in Washington, D.C. \/ Credit: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 9, 2025 \/ 18:25 pm (CNA). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has confirmed that the Catholic Church will not endorse political candidates for\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"U.S. Catholic bishops: Church will not endorse political candidates despite IRS shift","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/U.S.-Catholic-bishops-Church-will-not-endorse-political-candidates-despite-IRS-shift.webp?fit=800%2C600&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/U.S.-Catholic-bishops-Church-will-not-endorse-political-candidates-despite-IRS-shift.webp?fit=800%2C600&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/U.S.-Catholic-bishops-Church-will-not-endorse-political-candidates-despite-IRS-shift.webp?fit=800%2C600&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/U.S.-Catholic-bishops-Church-will-not-endorse-political-candidates-despite-IRS-shift.webp?fit=800%2C600&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5174,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/pope-francis-erects-new-metropolitan-see-in-zambia-appoints-pioneer-archbishop\/","url_meta":{"origin":77184,"position":1},"title":"Pope Francis erects new metropolitan see in Zambia, appoints pioneer archbishop","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"18 \u0438\u044e\u043d\u044f, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"[ad_1] Source Archbishop-elect Benjamin Phiri of the newly erected Archdiocese of Ndola in Zambia. \/ Credit: Archdiocese of Ndola ACI Africa, Jun 18, 2024 \/ 14:45 pm (CNA). Pope Francis has erected the Archdiocese of Ndola in Zambia and appointed Bishop Benjamin Phiri as its first archbishop.The southern African nation\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/dimension-2024-06-18t193432-1718728724.jpg.webp?fit=800%2C500&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/dimension-2024-06-18t193432-1718728724.jpg.webp?fit=800%2C500&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/dimension-2024-06-18t193432-1718728724.jpg.webp?fit=800%2C500&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/dimension-2024-06-18t193432-1718728724.jpg.webp?fit=800%2C500&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51808,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/orthodox-churches-join-catholic-bishops-in-suing-washington-state-over-confession-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":77184,"position":2},"title":"Orthodox churches join Catholic bishops in suing Washington state over confession law","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"10 \u0438\u044e\u043b\u044f, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Credit: Quisquilia\/Shutterstock CNA Staff, Jun 17, 2025 \/ 11:16 am (CNA). A group of Orthodox churches has joined the Catholic bishops of Washington state in suing the government over its requirement that clergy either violate the seal of confession or face jail time. The Orthodox Church in America, the Antiochian\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Orthodox churches join Catholic bishops in suing Washington state over confession law","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Orthodox-churches-join-Catholic-bishops-in-suing-Washington-state-over-confession-law.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Orthodox-churches-join-Catholic-bishops-in-suing-Washington-state-over-confession-law.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Orthodox-churches-join-Catholic-bishops-in-suing-Washington-state-over-confession-law.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Orthodox-churches-join-Catholic-bishops-in-suing-Washington-state-over-confession-law.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20848,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/chinese-bishop-focused-on-adapting-faith-to-communist-party-ideals-shanghai-catholics-say\/","url_meta":{"origin":77184,"position":3},"title":"Chinese bishop focused on adapting faith to Communist Party ideals, Shanghai Catholics say","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"22 \u043d\u043e\u044f\u0431\u0440\u044f, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"[ad_1] Shanghai Bishop Joseph Shen Bin speaks to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin at a Vatican conference on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. \/ Credit: Fabio Gonnella\/EWTN CNA Staff, Nov 22, 2024 \/ 06:00 am (CNA). A Chinese bishop with a history of support for the Chinese Communist Party\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/c7ad9f5a-c1a6-4fac-bca3-db0b0ea47a69.jpg?fit=800%2C536&quality=80&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/c7ad9f5a-c1a6-4fac-bca3-db0b0ea47a69.jpg?fit=800%2C536&quality=80&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/c7ad9f5a-c1a6-4fac-bca3-db0b0ea47a69.jpg?fit=800%2C536&quality=80&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/c7ad9f5a-c1a6-4fac-bca3-db0b0ea47a69.jpg?fit=800%2C536&quality=80&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54141,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/confraternity-of-catholic-clergy-defends-inviolable-seal-of-confession\/","url_meta":{"origin":77184,"position":4},"title":"Confraternity of Catholic Clergy defends inviolable seal of confession","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"18 \u0438\u044e\u043b\u044f, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Confessional. \/ Credit: AS photo studio\/Shutterstock CNA Staff, Jul 1, 2025 \/ 13:17 pm (CNA). The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, representing over 500 Roman Catholic priests and deacons from the U.S., Australia, and the United Kingdom, has issued a statement defending the inviolability of the seal of confession. The statement\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Confraternity of Catholic Clergy defends inviolable seal of confession","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Confraternity-of-Catholic-Clergy-defends-inviolable-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Confraternity-of-Catholic-Clergy-defends-inviolable-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Confraternity-of-Catholic-Clergy-defends-inviolable-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Confraternity-of-Catholic-Clergy-defends-inviolable-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C533&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57486,"url":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/federal-court-blocks-washington-law-that-would-force-priests-to-violate-seal-of-confession\/","url_meta":{"origin":77184,"position":5},"title":"Federal court blocks Washington law that would force priests to violate seal of confession","author":"Christian Pure Team","date":"25 \u0438\u044e\u043b\u044f, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"null \/ Credit: Brian A Jackson\/Shutterstock CNA Staff, Jul 18, 2025 \/ 12:30 pm (CNA). A federal court on July 18 blocked a controversial Washington state reporting law that would require priests to violate the seal of confession, siding with the state\u2019s Catholic bishops who brought suit against the measure\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0412 "Christian News"","block_context":{"text":"Christian News","link":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/learn\/category\/christian-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Federal court blocks Washington law that would force priests to violate seal of confession","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Federal-court-blocks-Washington-law-that-would-force-priests-to-violate-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C444&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Federal-court-blocks-Washington-law-that-would-force-priests-to-violate-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C444&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Federal-court-blocks-Washington-law-that-would-force-priests-to-violate-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C444&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/christianpure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Federal-court-blocks-Washington-law-that-would-force-priests-to-violate-seal-of-confession.webp?fit=800%2C444&quality=75&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"mfb_rest_fields":["title","jetpack_publicize_connections","jetpack_featured_media_url","jetpack-related-posts","jetpack_sharing_enabled"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77184"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=77184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}