From The States

Covid-19 victim becomes first nun cremated in India

Ashes of the first Indian Catholic nun to be cremated were interned in her congregation’s cemetery in Kerala State on July 7, five days after she died of Covid-19 in New Delhi. Sister Ajaya Mary, the Delhi provincial of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died on July 2 in the church-run […]

Doctorate for Fr Benny Palatty

Fr Dr Benny Jose Palatty has defended his Doctoral Thesis in the famous Jamia Millia Central University Delhi. In the Department of Education, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Dr Benny Jose secured the Doctorate for his study titled, “Analysing interactions in a Social Science classroom at Elementary level,” under the guidance of Prof. Farah […]

Bishop Mulakkal’s bail cancelled, court issues non-bailable warrant

A court in Kerala on July 13 created history by issuing non-bailable arrest warrant against a Catholic bishop, who failed several times to appear for trial in a rape case. The Additional District and Sessions Judge in Kottayam on July 1 had asked Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar to be present in the court to […]

Kashmiri couple buy US church to start cultural centre

A Kashmiri couple is in the process of buying a 97-year-old vacant church in America that they want to convert into a museum and library of art, culture and history of Kashmir. Khurshid Guru, a robotic surgeon and his wife, Lubna Guru are buying the church at 650 Park Place in Niagara Falls. “The couple […]

Two Indians appointed to Vatican council for dialogue

Two Indian prelates are among the new members Pope Francis appointed on July 8 to the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. They are Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado, the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, and Bishop Raphy Manjaly of Allahabad. They will join Cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle, the Prefect of the Congregation […]

Church health workers from Kerala make mark in Maharashtra

A group of health workers from Tellicherry archdiocese in Kerala has won praises for their dedicated services among coronavirus victims in a Maharashtra district. “The district collector and other officers are highly impressed with their work,” says Father Tomy Kariyilakulam, director Bel Air Hospital, a Red Cross Society of India institution managed by the church […]

Claims of Indian religious conversions ‘baseless’

A member of parliament from India’s Andhra Pradesh State has alleged that Christian missionaries use money for religious conversion, a claim rejected by church leaders and activists. Raghu Ramkrishna Raju, the minister who represents the southern state, claimed in a television debate on May 25 that Christian missionaries are pumping large sums of money to carry […]

Hindu nationalists attack film set depicting a church in India

Hindu nationalists have vandalized a movie set depicting a church in the Indian State of Kerala, claiming it offended Hindu sensibilities. Production on the Malayalam language film “Minnal Murali” had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The set was destroyed on May 24, with the Hindu nationalist groups Antharashtra Hindu Parishad (AHP) and […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica