From The States

Threat to controversial Indian ex-bishop’s life alleged

A police case has been re-gistered against a retired Indian archbishop and six priests for posing a threat to the life of a bishop who quit this month. Police in southern Karnataka state have launched a probe against retired Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal and six diocesan priests based on a complaint by the younger […]

Girls’ band of Salesian school in Tripura makes history

The chief minister and oth-ers in Tripura have applauded a Salesian school in a village in the northeastern Indian state after its girls’ band, formed less than a year ago, made history at national level. The Girls Brass Band of St Xavier’s Pathaliaghat clinched third place at the National School Band Competition held in New […]

Indian court wades into inter-faith marriage issue

Religious conversion for marriage must be done only after fully knowing the rituals and customs of the chosen faith, an Indian court has said amid controversies surrounding inter-faith marriages in the South Asian nation. People who convert to marry should be fully aware of “the consequences of such actions,” A.C Michael, a former member of […]

Tribal Christians under pressure to renounce faith in Indian state

A Catholic archbishop in the central Indian Chhattisgarh state has urged his Catholics to remain united in their faith amid claims by a Hindu group of having converted about 250 Christian families to the Hindu religion. Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur told UCA News on Jan 29 that “it is time we should be united and […]

Hostel girls missing: Catholic priest sent on judicial remand

A Catholic priest was sent to judicial custody on January 7 on an alleged disappearance of 26 girls from a hostel managed by the Church in Bhopal district of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Carmelite of Mary Immaculate Father Anil Mathew was reportedly sent to the Bhopal Central Jail after the state government […]

Indian nuns focus on unmet needs of elderly members

Sister Anne Mathew spends most of her time in eucharistic adoration in a home for elderly nuns in a southern Indian town. “Prayer works for me and is my strength,” the 81-year-old former nurse, who had worked for years in Austria and Switzerland, told Global Sisters Report.

India gets four new Catholic bishops

Pope Francis on December 30 appointed an archbishop and three bishops in India. The Pope transferred Bishop Vincent Aind of Bagdogra, a diocese in West Bengal, to Jharkhand state as the new archbishop of Ranchi, the mother diocese of India’s tribal Church. The two new bishops-elect are Father Peter Rumal Kharadi (photo) as the bishop […]

Kerala archdiocese’s Buon Natale presents 15,000 Christmas papas

The Archdiocese of Trichur together with the general public has organized the annual Buon Natale (Merry Christmas) presenting nearly 15,000 Santa Clauses, or Christmas Papas. The colorful and joyful program showed Santa, irrespective of age, dancing, walking, roller skating and on wheelchairs. More than 500,000 people watched the procession that started from St Thomas Ground […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica