Login      Register  
Subscription

African bishops’ conferences unite against blessing same-sex couples

The episcopal conferences of Africa are united in the belief that “the extra-liturgical blessings proposed in the declaration Fiducia Supplicans cannot be carried out in Africa” without creating scandal. Cardinal Fridolin Ambogo of Kinshasa, the president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) summarized the stands taken by the different bishops’ conferences of […]

Security denied, function to honor Kandhamal martyrs postponed

The Catholic Church has postponed a function to celebrate the Vatican recognition of the Kandhamal martyrs after the civil administration denied security. More than 10,000 people were expected to attend the January 9 function at Raikia to honor 35 Servants of God who were martyred for their faith during the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal, […]

Manipur, Archbishop of Imphal: ‘At Christmas God unites us beyond any tribe, language or culture’

“We are approaching Christmas” and “traditionally we look forward to this great celebration”, but “this year several parishes in our archdiocese will not be able to carry out Christmas liturgies or gather families and loved ones as happened in the past due to ethnic violence.” For this reason the Church invites us to “refrain from […]

Chandigarh: Mother Teresa charity home faces 54-million fine

The Chandigarh administration has issued a show-cause notice to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity Home for allegedly violating building laws. The administration of the federally-ruled territory has asked the institution in Sector 23 of the city to appear for a personal hearing on February 10, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported January 9. The administration alleged […]

Indian Christians disassociate from leaders over Modi’s Christmas party

Thousands of Indian Christians have distanced themselves from their leaders who attended a Christmas lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing their silence over the ongoing anti-Christian violence in the country. Over 3,000 Christians signed an online signature campaign, saying the Christian leaders, including Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai and several bishops from various […]

Cardinal says Vatican doc on same-sex blessings a ‘natural’ for India

India’s most senior Catholic cardinal and a close advisor to Pope Francis has said the Fiducia Supplicans, a controversial new Vatican text approving non-liturgical blessings for same-sex unions, is a “natural” for his country, calling it “an affirmation of our spirituality and a gift.” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai told Crux that in Indian culture, […]

Arrested dissident Chinese bishop remains untraced

The whereabouts of a Chinese Catholic bishop remain unknown six days after his alleged arrest by the Communist authorities, reports say. Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou was arrested on Jan. 2, for allegedly opposing the meddling of the state officials in the affairs of the diocese in Zhejiang province of eastern China, the Pillar […]

Colombo: anti-drug operation leaves hundreds of children without parents

A recent anti-drug operation called “Yukthiya” (which means “justice”) is leaving hundreds of children without parents due to indiscriminate arrests. According to Patali Champika Ranawaka, former Energy Minister and leader of the United Republican Front (URF), the police have arrested a large number of drug addicts, sometimes both parents, especially in Colombo and the suburbs. […]