Traffickers disguise as missionaries in Thailand to lure victims

By Madalaine Elhabbal

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 11, 2025 / 17:46 pm

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news that you might have missed this week:

Traffickers pose as Christian missionaries to entrap victims, Thai-Philippine law enforcement says

Human traffickers have begun posing as Christian missionaries or pilgrims in order to pass airport controls, Philippine and Thai police reported after a recent investigation, according to a report from Agenzia Fides on Wednesday.

Law enforcement recently stopped two young women, 23 and 25 years old, from being trafficked to Thailand by an older woman who claimed they were Christian missionaries. After noticing inconsistencies in their documents, airport officials detained the women, who said they were “volunteers belonging to the Catholic Church for missionary work in Thailand.”

Upon investigation, they discovered the older woman to be an organizer of a trafficking network that smuggles women to Thailand. The young women accompanying her had been allegedly “seduced” by the prospect of a teaching job, then pulled into a criminal network of prostitution.

Italy to welcome 700 Afghan refugees forced to flee after disastrous 2021 U.S. withdrawal

Italy Welcomes 700 Afghan Refugees

Italy has reached an agreement with various associations, including the Community of Sant’Egido, to welcome seven hundred Afghan refugees into the country. This initiative comes as a beacon of hope for those who were forced to flee their country amidst the chaos in Kabul in August 2021. The international community had seemingly forgotten about these refugees, but now, thanks to the humanitarian corridors initiative, they will have a chance at a new beginning.

New German Government Upholds Religious Freedom Initiative

Germany’s new coalition government has decided to retain the Federal Government Commissioner for Worldwide Religious Freedom position in its foreign policy. Despite initial talks of eliminating the role, the Union-SPD coalition has confirmed its importance. This move has been welcomed by President Dirk Bingener of Missio, who sees it as a positive step for persecuted Christians and individuals of other faiths facing religious rights violations.

Catholic Community in Bahrain Embraces Lenten Season

As Easter approaches, the Catholic community in Bahrain is actively participating in a spiritually enriching Lenten season, marked by prayer and fasting. Father Charbel Rizk, a prominent figure in the Arabic-speaking Catholic community, is guiding the faithful through the details of the Mass to deepen their spiritual understanding and connection during this holy time.

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