A legal rights watchdog affiliated to rightwing Hindu groups wants a Catholic archbishop prosecuted under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 for his “highly provocative and objectionable” remarks. The Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has moved the Election Commission against Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar for releasing a letter urging for prayers to save secularism from “nationalist forces.” In a signed letter dated November 21 written on behalf of the Catholic bishops of Gujarat Archbishop Macwan urged Christians to pray for the election of humane leaders to save India from nationalist forces. The letter also urged Christians to organize prayer services so that people who are faithful to the Indian Constitution could be elected. According to LRO, the prelate’s letter is “directly aimed at demonizing certain organizations…obliquely appealing electorate to vote against ruling BJP.”
Thousands take part in Eucharistic procession in Manipur
More than 4,000 people on November 19 attended the second Eucharistic procession of the Tangkhul Catholic Church of Manipur, northeastern India. They came from different villages of Ukhrul district and other state parishes of Manipur. Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal led the Mass in Tangkhul Naga Long Ground, Ukhrul headquarters. The procession began from two destinations – Hungpung and Hunphun parishes– under the theme of “Eucharist, the source of our Salvation.”
Curia reform: Pope Francis reorganizes Vatican Secretariat of State
Pope Francis has established a third section, or department, of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, which reportedly began its operations on Nov. 9. The new section is named “Section for the Diplomatic Staff,” and is tasked with overseeing the Holy See’s diplomatic corps, stationed around the world.
Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawlowski has been appointed to helm the third section. Previously the apostolic nuncio to Gabon, in 2015 Pawlowski was appointed head of the Office for Pontifical Representations, a sort of “human resources office” within the Secretariat of State. That office has been now elevated into an independent department, alongside the two sections that already constitute the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.
Mumbai priest’s blog takes up difficult issues
Fr Joshan Rodrigues of Bombay archdiocese has started a blog— Musings in Catholic Land—aiming to engage Catholics, especially youth, in difficult conversations, otherwise considered controversial. From porno-graphy, the church’s stand on the LGBT community, boredom at mass to in-law woes, Fr Rodrigues’ posts have gained over 15,000 hits ever since he started the blog five months ago. Most of his readers are between the ages of 18-30.
India marks World Day of the Poor
In Mumbai, the Church will be taking up donations to mark the World Day of the Poor, instituted by Pope Francis at the end of the Jubilee of Mercy. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, launched the ACTS project – standing for ‘Actively Called to Serve’ – which will give bags to each parish, so people can donate items like grain, rice, sugar, and toiletries for the less fortunate.
ACTS will work with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Centre for Community Organization.
NIA files third status report in SC in Kerala ‘love jihad’ case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 23 submitted a third status report on the Kerala ‘love jihad’ episode to the Supreme Court, where the case is scheduled for hearing on Nov. 27.
The agency completed the detailed status report after a thorough examination of 11 cases of alleged ‘love jihad’ and handed it over to the Supreme Court in a sealed envelope, an official said.
Hadiya is in the custody of her parents following Kerala High Court order. Supreme court has allowed to continue her studies in Tamil Nadu as she claimed that her conversion was by her own will and wants to live by her husband in the court.
Vatican scolds Chinese priest for self-ordination
The Vatican warned the underground Catholic Church in China against ordaining bishops apart from the Holy See, as tensions rise over a proposed agreement between the Vatican and China’s communist leaders.
“The Holy See has not authorized any ordination, nor has it been officially informed of such events,” the church statement said. “Should such episcopal ordinations have occurred, they would constitute a grave violation of canonical norms.”
Archaeology department stalls church renovation in Kerala
Renovations of a historic church near Kochi was stopped after the Archaeology department intervened, on receiving requests from an action council to protect the heritage structure. Authorities at the St Louis Catholic Church in Mundamveli have said that they have stopped a move to make alterations inside the church after they received a stop memo from the State Archaeology Department.
Sr Rani Maria’s beatification celebrated in Kerala
The celebration organised by the Catholic Church of Kerala in connection with the beatification of missionary nun Sr Rani Maria was held at St Mary’s Basilica in Kochi on november 11. It began at 2.45 pm with a procession carrying relics of the beatified nun from the Archbishop’s House to the basilica. Bishop Mar Sebastian Aayanthrath welcomed the gathering. Bishop Mar Jose Puthenveettil read out the Pope’s decree elevating Sr Rani to the status of ‘Blessed Martyr’. This was followed by a thanksgiving Holy Mass led by Cardinal George Alencherry. KCBC president Archbishop M Susai Pakiam delivered the homily. Nagpur Archbishop Abraham Viruthukulangara, Indore Bishop Chacko Thottumarikkal, and several bishops from within and outside Kerala were co-celebrants.
Cardinal Alencherry delivered the benedictory address at the public meeting. Archbishop Viruthukulangara, Bishop Thottumarikkal, FCC mother general Sr Anne Joseph, Sr Rani’s sister Sr Selmy, Archdiocese pro vicar general Fr Antony Narikulam, Seva Singh , a representative from Uday Nagar where Sr Rani carried out her missionary work, spoke. The celebration was organised by the Catholic Church in Kerala and Franciscan Clarist Congregation, the order to which Sr Rani belonged.
Persecution, neglect and silence deepen Rohingya crisis
Ethnic cleansing of Rohingya in Myanmar has strong parallels with the genocide of ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda, one of the worst atrocities of modern times.
From April-July 1994, Hutu militias backed by the Hutu-majority government and military, massacred up to one million minority Tutsis. The genocide was the culmi-nation of long-time ethnic conflict in Rwanda, a small equatorial republic straddling central and eastern Africa.
It was triggered by the killing of then Rwandan Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana in an April 6 rocket attack on his aircraft. Hutus blamed the Tutsi rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) for the attack.
Then RPF leader Paul Kagame, who is now the nation’s president, alleged it was Hutu extremists who staged the assassination as a pretext for genocide. The International community stood aside as mass killings took place before the U.N. belatedly intervened to overthrow the murderous regime.
Lighter-skinned and taller than Hutus, Tutsis are widely considered to originally have been immigrants from Ethiopia. Belgian colonists (1916-61) treated Tutsis as superior to Hutus. Better employment and educational opportunities for Tutsis frustrated Hutus.