From The States

NLFRP to help victims of anti-conversion laws, atrocities

More than 100 priests, brothers and nuns who practice law have resolved to reach out to those affected by anti-conversion laws and anti-minority atrocities. The National Lawyers Forum of Religious and Priests (NLFRP) that held its Dece-mber 6-8 convention at Eluru in Andhra Pradesh has also formed three high-power committees to deal with such cases. […]

Indian Catholics strive to protect Portuguese heritage church

Catholics have sought the resto-ration and protection of a 16th-century Portuguese-era church in a western Indian state after it was reportedly struck down in the new development plan by the local urban body. The Our Lady of Mercy Church was built by Portuguese Jesuits in 1562 at Thane in Maharashtra. “When we went through the […]

Thousands flock to Christmas music festival in India

Thousands of people cutting across religious affiliations have taken part in an annual Christmas music festival in India’s commercial capital Mumbai. Catholic parishes and members of the Methodist Church and the Church of North India participated in the Prabhu Yeshu Janmotsav (Lord Jesus’s Birthday) festival on the evening of Dec. 8. “In its 59th year, […]

12,000 gather as Goa starts exposition of St. Francis Xavier relics

At least 12,000 people thronged India’s western state of Goa on November 21 to participate in the ceremonies marking the start of the once-in-ten-year exposition of St. Francis Xavier’s relics. The 18th expo-sition started with a Mass at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a 16th-century UNESCO-approved world heritage monument that houses the saint’s body. “We […]

Christians appeal Indian govt to restore peace in Manipur

A Christian ecumenical body has urged India’s federal government to restore peace in Manipur state, where life was disrupted by the latest bout of violence between indigenous Christians and Meitei Hindus. “The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated. The peo-ple of Manipur are caught in a state of utter hopelessness and insecurity,” said Reverend […]

Tribal Christians hail secular alliance’s win in India’s Jharkhand

Tribal Christian leaders have welcomed a secular regio-nal party returning to power in India’s eastern Jharkhand state in the recently concluded polls. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which advocates tribal people’s rights and interests, secured 34 seats in the 81-seat state assembly. Its secular allies, including the Indian National Congress and socialist and communist parties, […]

Contextualized academic research attempts conflict resolution

A premier college in violence hit Manipur state conducted a three-day innovative Faculty Deve-lopment Program Workshop on Innovative Research Writing, November 21-23. The faculty members of Don Bosco College Autonomous Maram who belonged to the different communities of the state having experienced or known persons who were affected by the ongoing conflict participated in the […]

Indian Baptist pastor arrested for ‘magical healing’

Police in India’s Assam state have arrested a Baptist pastor on charges of violating a newly enacted law that curbs magical healing after he prayed over some tribal people in a village. Pastor Pranjal Bhuyan was arrested on Nov. 22 in the northeastern state for violating the Assam Magical Healing (Prevention of Evil Practices) Act […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica