Renowned social activist launches hunger strike for endosulfan victims

Daya Bai, a renowned social activist, launched an indefinite satyagraha to demand justice for the victims of endo-sulfan pesticide on October 2, the International Day of Non Violence and the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The use of endosulfan pesticide has killed hundreds of people and maimed and deva-stated the lives of thousands living in […]

Indian Christian Women Movement to admit transpersons as members

The Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM), an ecumenical forum, has resolved to admit trans persons and LGBT+ persons as members and engage with social and Church issues with “the lens of feminism, liberation and gospel values.” The resolution emerged at the third ICWM convention held September 29-October 2 at the United Theological College in Bengaluru, […]

Indian Church’s liturgical dispute reaches the Vatican

The decades-old liturgical dispute in India’s eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church reached the Vatican when a group of Catholics raised placards during the general audience of Pope Francis. The close to 100 faithful including women from the Kerala-based Church on Oct. 5 tried to grab the Pope’s attention by dis-playing placards demanding to allow their priests […]

Hijab row hits Catholic school in Kerala

The row over wearing hijab on September 26 led clashes and disruption of classes in Providence School in Kozhikode, a town in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Some activists of the Students Islamic Organization of India stormed the girls’ school in the morning and in the clashes at the entrance three police people were […]

Hijab row hits Catholic school in Kerala

Sikkim political secretary denies conversion allegations

The political secretary of the Sikkim Chief Minister on Sept. 30 denied allegations that he was using his position to spread Christianity in the northeastern Indian Himalayan state. “Today, I am shocked and pained to learn about the wild, unfounded and dubious allegations leveled against me by a former minister and present Dentam MLA N.K. […]

Vizhinjam project: Archdiocese to continue protests despite High Court order

The Latin rite archdiocese of Trivandrum says it will continue its agitation against the Vizhinjam seaport, despite a High Court order to remove tents used by the protesters. “It is only an interim order and the Church would file a petition to review it,” Father Eugine Pereira,, the vicar general of the archdiocese told on […]

Indian govt to look into quotas for Dalit Christians, Muslims

A Catholic Church official has welcomed the Indian government’s decision to appoint a commission to examine if Dalits who converted to Christianity or Islam can be accorded Scheduled Caste (SC) status. The federal government in a notification issued on Oct. 6 announced the setting up of a three-member inquiry commission headed by former Chief Justice […]