From The States

Indian tribal Christians counter moves to deny them welfare benefits

Tribal people including Christi-ans in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh are up in arms about attempts by Hindu nationalist forces to rob them of reservation benefits. Reservations form a system of affirmative action in India that provides representation in education, employment and politics for historically disadvantaged groups such as tribal people, Dalits and backward […]

Pope to Syro-Malabar youth: Walk along Jesus’ path of love

Pope Francis has invited the youth of the Syro-Malabar Church to follow Jesus by saying “yes” to a life of service and responsibility, and “no” to one of superficiality and dissipation. The Pope said on June 18 during a meeting with the pilgrims of the “Syro-Malabar Youth Leaders Conference. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one […]

Indian PM on sticky wicket for renaming stadium after himself

June appears to be the cruelest month for India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), although the former seems unfazed if his silence is any indicator. The Islamic world is furious with a BJP spokesperson’s re-marks on the Prophet Muhammad while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called out India […]

India’s Supreme Court to hear plea for protecting Christians

India’s Supreme Court has admitted a plea seeking a direction to end the rising attacks against Christians and their institutions in the county. A division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice J.B. Pardiwala directed the court registry to list it on a priority basis for July 11, the day courts reopen after the summer […]

Odisha chief minister calls on Pope Francis

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on June 22 met Pope Francis in the Vatican. “It has been an absolute pleasure meeting His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City. Thanked him for the warm audience and wished him good health and long life,” Patnaik said on his social media post.

NEW SUPERIOR GENERAL FOR ST PAULS

The XIth General Chapter of the Society of St Paul held at Ariccia, Italy, has elected Fr Domenico Soliman (56 years) as the next Superior General of the Congregation, and the 8th successor to Blessed James Alberione, its Founder and first Superior General. Fr Soliman was elected to the highest office of the Congregation on […]

Caritas India awarded with excellence awards

Caritas India, the social development arm of the Catholic bishops in India, has been awarded for its excellent work in humanitarian aid and disaster risk reduction, community health, climate-adaptive agriculture and food sovereignty.

Book on nuns’ valiant struggle against archdiocese released

A book on the unusual struggle of a group of Catholic nuns against an archdiocese and their congregation was launched June 26 during a virtual function. The book, “My Prophetic Struggle, The Narakkal Story,’ written jointly by Carmelite Sister Annie Jaise and feminist theologian Kochurani Abraham, was released by Sister Elsa Muttathu, the national secretary […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica