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Polling goes ahead on Maundy Thursday‍

Voters in 13 Indian states will go to polling stations on Maundy Thursday in parliamentary elections after the High Court in Tamil Nadu state dismissed a petition from church officials to reschedule the date. The federal Election Commission has scheduled polling in 97 constituencies of 13 states on

Church communicators urged to end silence, be bold

Indian Church’s top communicators were urged to boldly present Church’s perspective on issues without running away from uncomfortable realities. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) secretary general Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and other experts suggested strategies for Church communicators to “become effective” at a March 11-15 national meeting. Some 45 people, mostly regional directors of communication, […]

Religious nationalism, unemployment, top poll issues

Rising unemployment and nationalism on religious lines are the two key issues bothering citizens ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, revealed a survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS and the Azim Premji University. “20% of those surveyed said unemployment was the biggest issue facing India, and 15% said the top government priority should be a remedy to […]

Indian voters must ‘avoid terror of pseudo-nationalism’

Ahead of the general elections in India in April, Church officials have issued pastoral guidelines asking Catholics to reject candidates who espouse certain ideologies and vote for guardians of secularism and democracy. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, joined other regional bishops in issuing a set of guidelines. The latest comes from […]

Odisha’s Marian shrine celebrates silver Jubilee

More than 45,000 people have attended the jubilee of a Marian apparition in Odisha, eastern India. “Where there is Mother Mary there is Jesus and where there is Jesus there is satisfaction and fulfilment. Mother Mary is not only Mother of God but Mother of everyone who seeks her constant intercession,” said Arch-bishop John Barwa […]

Catholic Church is against forced conversions, says Bishop Mascarenhas

The Catholic Church “is against all conversions done by force or deception. At the same time, it defends the right of everyone to profess and spread their faith,” said Mgr Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). The prelate’s statement comes in the wake of the alleged abduction of two […]