In 1983, Sri Lanka descended into a bitter and prolonged ethnic conflict. Harry Miller, S.J., then almost 60, was thrust into a new role as witness, advocate, intermediary and protector not only for his students but for anyone in Batticaloa who sought his help.

Catholic Relief Services is working with local partners to help determine the greatest needs of survivors of Indonesia's Dec. 22 tsunami.

"They shared the belief that this step will help relations between the two sides grow and develop further," said the statement, released Dec. 20.

The National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers has counted more than 2,600 cases of dead or missing Indonesian migrants since 2014.

The issues that concern young Asians are different from those of their counterparts in the West, the Indian cardinal said.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of five.