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Indian priest on indefinite fast against uniform liturgy

A Catholic priest in India has launched an indefinite hunger strike against his Eastern-rite Church’s demand that all priests stop celebra-ting Mass facing the congregation in order to have uniformity in the liturgy. Father Babu Joseph Kalathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese started his fast in the arch-bishop’s house on Jan. 12. He said the synod’s decision […]

Nun rape case verdict evokes sympathy, support for victim

Support and sympathy for a Catholic nun continue to pour in even a week after a court in Kerala dismissed her case against a bishop. Additional District and Sessions Court Judge G. Gopakumar on January 14 acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar in the historic nun rape case, saying the prosecution had failed to prove […]

Varanasi ghat reverberates with message of love

The civil society people in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh committed to secularism and composite culture, have initiated a series of programs to promote communal harmony and peace. The programs, held under the banner of “Paigam-e-Muhabat (Message of Love), are being held in the wake of hate speech, exclusive and divisive ideologies being spread by the fundamentalist […]

Indian ‘prophet’ stuns politician with surprise gift

A self-proclaimed prophet in the north-eastern Indian state of Mizoram has caused a stir by presenting a black shawl – a symbol of mourning – to Chief Minister Zoramthanga at a Sunday prayer service. The episode took place at Zarkawt Presbyterian Church in the state capital Aizawl on January 2. Eyewitnesses said Zoramthanga was seated […]

Scepticism over official claim that Haryana vandals who destroyed a statue of Jesus on Christmas night were drunk

Christian leaders in India have sought an impartial probe into the destruction of a cent-ury-old statue of Jesus Christ at a British-era Catholic church in Ambala in the northern state of Haryana. Two men were seen on CCTV footage scaling the church compound on Christ-mas night and destroying the statue after breaking open the casket. […]

Catholic religious question silence of Indian Church on violence

A group of progressive Catholic religious in India have questioned the silence of the official Catholic Church over the continued violent attacks on Christians and other mino-rity communities across the country. They want the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) to take up the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit […]

Naga Christians walk against Indian army abuse

Thousands of people, mostly Christians, in India’s north-eastern state of Nagaland took part in a two-day walkathon from commercial hub Dimapur to capital Kohima demanding the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and justice for Naga Christians killed by the Indian army last month. Protesters including civil society activists and women […]

‘Unzen Hell’ a reminder of Christian persecution in Japan

The journey through Nagasaki Prefecture starts from a small town with a curious name, Obama, which has no relation with the former US president (but did make it globally notorious for a while) and only means a small beach. It is in fact a small spa resort on Kyushu, Japan’s third-largest island, overlooking the open […]