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Hindu groups raise conversion controversy ahead of pope’s Asia visit

Leaders of right-wing Hindu groups are reigniting the con-troversial issue of Christian missionaries converting Hindus, ahead of Pope Francis’ historic Asian visit that will see him travel to Myanmar instead of India. They have feigned ignorance about the pontiff being blocked from a planned India visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The “Vishwa Hindu […]

Bishop criticizes politicians for branding secularism a lie

A majority of Hindus are tolerant toward other religions but politicians deliberately create problems as a distraction from other grievances, says the secretary-general of the Indian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas was reacting to a leader of India’s ruling pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who rejected the concept of government secularism. Yogi Adityanath, the […]

Sibi George to be new Indian envoy to Holy See

The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1993 batch Sibi George will be the new amba-ssador of India to the Holy See, an announcement by the Ministry of External Affairs said here. He will replace Smita Purushottam. Mr George is also presently Ambassador of India to Switzer-land. He will have his residence in Berne and […]

Blessed Rani Maria’s parish declared pilgrimage centre

The beatifica-tion of Sr Rani Maria has seen the elevation of her home parish in Kerala as a pilgri-mage centre of the Syro-Malabar Church. The St Thomas Church at Pulluvazhi near Perumbavoor has been declared a pilgrimage centre by Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry on Nov 20. Sr Rani Maria was beatified in […]

Cardinal Bo urges Pope Francis not to use the word ‘Rohingya’ during Myanmar visit

In 2006, while he was visiting Regensburg, Germany, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI delivered an address in which he cited a 14th century dialogue between a Byzantine emperor and a Persian, unleashing a firestorm of protest across the Islamic world. Benedict’s quote cited the emperor saying: “Show me just what Mohammad brought that was new, and […]

Muslims Are Converting to Christianity in Record Numbers

How are so many conversions taking place in oppressive countries where proselytizing can bring a death sentence? “We are in a time of the first ever mass conversions of Muslims,” Father Mitch Pacwa SJ told me in a phone interview. “God is doing a mighty work among them.” Pacwa is a host for EWTN radio […]

Pope dodges Rohingya, focuses on tolerance, justice and peace in Myanmar

Pope Francis has avoided any specific mention of Myanmar’s multiple conflicts, including the Rohingya refugee crisis, during his Nov. 28 public address set piece at the national capital Nay Pyi Taw. Instead, the first trip ever to a country by any Pope, he chose to broadly address the importance of peace, tolerance, respect for religious […]

Bangladesh author writes rhyming Bible stories

A prominent Bangladeshi Catholic musician has written a book containing Bible stories that rhyme to help Christian children read and understand the Bible better. Card Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka launched the book called Chhonde Pobitro Bibeler Golpo (Selected Stories from the Holy Bible in Rhyme) written by Bartholomew Prottyush Shaha on Nov. 19 in Dhaka. […]