From The States

Indian heads International Catholic Biblical Society

The Society of Paul superior general Father Domenico Solliman has appointed Father Jose Pottayil as the director of the Madrid-based International Catholic Biblical So-ciety that was set up a hundred years ago by Venerable James Alberione, the congregation’s founder. Father Pottayil is the first Asian and Indian to head the society known as SOBICAIN (Società […]

Jesuit heads Tamil Nadu’s Minorities Commission

The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has appointed Jesuit Father Joe Arun as the chairperson of its 10 member Minorities Commission. A government notification on July 23 said the appointment is for 3 years. The 59-year-old Jesuit is the secretary for the higher education secretariat of Jesuit Conference of South Asia and Director of […]

Catholic Priest Who Fought Land Sharks In Vasai Dies

A Catholic priest, who had gone beyond his priestly duties to fight illegal land grabbers and promote peace and communal harmony even at risk to his safety, died July 25 after a prolonged illness. Father Francis D’Britto of the western Indian Vasai diocese was known for his involvement in public movements such as the Harit […]

7 Indian Christians accused of violating conversion law

Seven Christians have been accused of violating the stringent anti-conversion law in two separate incidents in the northern Indian Uttar Pradesh state. Police arrested Pastor Ram Udeshy Sahani, Babulal Sahani and Vinod Kumar on July 14 in Maharajanj district. They were charged with converting a man by allegedly offering money and promising miraculous healing, according […]

Catholic diocese moves court to quash Indian state’s order

A Catholic diocese has approached the top court of a central Indian state over a government order asking two of its schools to reimburse close 180 million rupees (some US$2.2 million) after accusing them of collecting exorbitant fees from students. The Jabalpur diocese in Madhya Pradesh approached the State High Court on July 16 “seeking […]

Catholic school faces action for ‘hurting sentiments’ in Madhya Pradesh

Police in a central Indian state have begun investigating complaints that a Catholic school has been hurting the religious sentiments of its students by insisting on reciting prayers in English. “A case is registered against us for following the medium of instruction [English] in our school,” said Sister Rashmi Kuzhyil, vice principal of Vandana Convent […]

Indian Christians seek police protection

Christians in a northern Indian state have sought police protection after right-wing Hindu groups allegedly threatened to accuse them of breaching a stringent anti-conversion law. In a petition submitted to the top policeman in Maharajganj district in northern Uttar Pradesh, Christians say their lives have been threatened. “We were forced to seek police protection as […]

Caritas India to help Assam flood victims

Caritas India, the social service wing of the Catholic Church in the country, has geared up for rescue and relief work in Assam state in the northeast, which has been badly hit by floods. The media reported 46 deaths on July 4 while a report from the Assam State Disaster Manage-ment Authority (ASDMA) said the […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica