9 people sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder of Myanmar priest
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The funeral of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win (left), who was martyred in Myanmar on Feb. 14, 2025. / Credit: Archdiocese of MandalayACI Prensa Staff, Jul 18, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).The Vatican news agency Fides reported that nine people were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of a 44-year-old priest in Myanmar, a crime that shocked a country that has been enveloped in civil war since 2021.According to the article published July 17, a court affiliated with the Ministry of Justice of the National Unity Government (NUG), the government in exile that leads the opposition, sentenced the nine defendants for the murder of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, a priest of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, who was killed on Feb. 14 on the grounds of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in the Shwe Bo district in the Sagaing region.According to investigations, those convicted were part of local armed groups linked to the People's Defense Force (PDF), the resistance force that controls the "...
The funeral of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win (left), who was martyred in Myanmar on Feb. 14, 2025. / Credit: Archdiocese of Mandalay
ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 18, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).
The Vatican news agency Fides reported that nine people were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of a 44-year-old priest in Myanmar, a crime that shocked a country that has been enveloped in civil war since 2021.
According to the article published July 17, a court affiliated with the Ministry of Justice of the National Unity Government (NUG), the government in exile that leads the opposition, sentenced the nine defendants for the murder of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, a priest of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, who was killed on Feb. 14 on the grounds of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in the Shwe Bo district in the Sagaing region.
According to investigations, those convicted were part of local armed groups linked to the People's Defense Force (PDF), the resistance force that controls the "liberated areas" wrested from the control of the Burmese military junta.
Although the PDF reports to the NUG — composed of parliamentarians ousted after the February 2021 military coup — these units often operate without full coordination. "In some ways, the PDF itself tried to bring to justice the armed men who, in the situation of widespread instability, are out of control. However, the reasons for the murder are still unclear," sources cited by Fides said.
"We know that Father Donald was a man of God, a parish priest dedicated to the people, a good and sincere person who was committed, above all, to the education of children left without school due to the civil war. He had done nothing wrong," said Father John, a priest in Mandalay.
The local Catholic community is moderately satisfied with the sentence, as justice was expected, although "there are still too many unanswered questions; the family would also like more clarity and full justice," the priest added.
The civil war in Myanmar
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been in a state of civil war since the February 2021 military coup that overthrew the democratic government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The military junta's seizure of power sparked massive protests, the rise of civilian militias (such as the PDF), and spiraling violence across the country.
The repression has left thousands dead, tens of thousands detained, and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure. Among the most recent attacks was the Feb. 6 airstrike on Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Mindat, Chin state, a Christian-majority state.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. / Credit: USCCB videoWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 18, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has called for peace and an "immediate ceasefire" following the bombing of the only Catholic church in Gaza."With the Holy Father, the Catholic bishops of the United States are deeply saddened to learn about the deaths and injuries at Holy Family Church in Gaza caused by a military strike," Broglio wrote in a Thursday statement. The July 17 Israeli strike killed three people and injured nine others, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli."Our first concern, naturally, goes out to Father Gabriel Romanelli and all his parishioners, most especially to the families of those killed," Broglio said. "Our prayers are for them during these tragic times."The statement follows a message from Pope Leo XIV on the social media plat...
