A local bishop in India has voiced his objection to a proposed new anti-conversion law in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

The UP State Law Commission on submitted a report to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath suggesting a new law to check “forcible religious conversions.” The head of the commission, Justice Aditya Nath Mittal, was quoted in local media as saying that “existing legal provisions are not enough to check religious conversion and on this serious matter, a new law is needed like in 10 other [Indian] states.”

The proposed law would increase the punishment for “forced conversion” to seven years if the convert is under 18 or belonging to one of India’s Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, who have traditionally been on the bottom of the country’s society. Bp Gerald John Mathias of Lucknow told Crux the law is not needed.

“The Catholic Church is always against any ‘forceful conversion.’ Forced conversion is a contradictory term; if anyone is forcibly converted, he or she is not actually converted. Unless there is an internal conversion, there is no conversion. There has to be a conversion of ‘heart’ for any real conversion. If a person is not ready to accept Christ, or is unwilling to accept Christ, no amount of force, can convert that person,” the bishop said. He said the Church has seen a “spurt in incidents against the Christians.”

A secretariat march organized by the Joint Christian Council in the Kerala State capital to press for a Church act drew a massive crowd.

The march on November 28 was held under the aegis of the ecumenical All Kerala Church Act Action Council (AKCAAC) that has demanded the enactment of the Kerala Christian Church Properties and Institutions Trust Bill.

The secret of success of any peace effort is the ability to listen, says Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, who on December 9 received the latest “Ambassador for Peace” award from the International Human Rights Council. “Many think that volubility and vocabulary, a cute approach and a persuasive tongue will convince the parties in conflict. But far more important is a contextual understanding of their more serious anxieties in their complexity and depth. But ultimately, a ‘sympathetic listening’ to their inner agonies alone will open the doors for dialogue,” said the 83-old Salesian prelate who received the award at a glittering ceremony held at India Islamic Centre Auditorium in New Delhi.

The severed body of 28-year-old nun was found on a railway tracks in Hublitwon of Karnataka.

The shocking incident occurred around 3:30 am on December 4. Sister Mary Sendra Vianney of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Convent is the second child in the family of four children born to Gurushantappa and Kosumaria at Gadag, Belgaum.

She joined the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany in 2012.

The Delhi-based International Human Rights Council has announced an “Ambassador for Peace” Award for retired Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati. The Award conferred on 9th December 2019 in New Delhi in the presence of invitees from all over the country and abroad. One of the earlier recipients of the Award is the Dalai Lama among many other internationally known figures.

International Human Rights Council is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the organization gives voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes.

Though a Church man, Salesian Archbishop Thomas believes in social activism and is firm believer of peace building and social harmony who often repeats, “Peace comes when all of us recognize that we need each other.”

“I was drawn into it [peace building] in 1996 when almost two-and-a-half lakh people fled into relief camps around Kokrajhar [Bodoland] having lost their dear ones and property,” recalls Archbishop Menamparampil.

Without hesitation the soft spoken archbishop adds, “Fortunately, like-minded people came together to help from different Churches and communities.”

“It was a people’s effort, of joint action” he says. With the encouragement and support of the State Government and the general public, relief work made progress and an atmosphere for peace was created.

Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor Antonysamy Savarimuthu as the new bishop of Palayamkottai diocese in Tamil Nadu State. The bish-op designate is a priest of the same diocese. The appointment was announced at 12 noon on November 20 in Rome and 4:30 pm, its corresponding time in India.

Indian Catholic girl, Jesvita Princy Quadras, among others, is appointed to International Youth Advisory Body.

On the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 24, the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life of the Roman Curia announced about the establishment of an International Youth Advisory Body made up of 20 young people from different regions on the world and some international movements, associations and communities, said a press note from the Dicastery.

A college in Darjeeling hills has won an international award for Faculty Orientation and Strategic Planning.

Salesian College Principal Father George Thadathil and CEO of Leader-ship Inc Hong Kong Mark J. Pixley were awarded IAF Silver Medal Inter-national Award by its Asia Head Farah at the Umrao, New Delhi, on Novem-ber 15.

The US-based National Geographic magazine has honoured Kerala’s five “rebel” nuns by featuring them in its November issue.

The 131-year-old magazine has hailed the endurance of Missionaries of Jesus Sisters Alphy Pallasseril, Ancitta Urumbil, Anupama Kelamangalathuveli, Josephine Villoonnickal, and Neena Rose in their demand for justice for one of their companions, who was allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar.