From The States

Cardinal Alencherry asked to face trial in land deal case

The Kerala High Court on August 12 said that Cardinal George Alencherry must face trial in the land deal case. The court upheld the verdict of a district sessions court that on August 24, 2019, asked the cardinal and two others to stand trial in the case. The court has dismissed six petitions submitted by […]

Goa Jesuits mourn death of renowned educationist, historian

Jesuits in Goa have mourned the death of Father Gregory Naik, their first provincial who explored the western Indian state’s colonial history and its connection with the Society of Jesus. Father Naik died August 9 at Xavier Residence in Alto Porvorim, on the northern outskirts of the state capital of Panaji. He was 88.

India’s tribal people vow to continue struggle

India’s tribal people recalled the long struggles to preserve their indigenous identity, culture and land while pledging to continue them on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The sacrifice made by late Jesuit priest Stan Swamy for the cause of “jal, jangal and jamin” (water, forest and land) was remembered by Father Irudhaya Jothi, […]

Falling birth-rate threatens Christian existence in Kerala: Catholic bishops

Catholic bishops in Kerala warn that the drastic fall in the birth rate among Christians threatens the community’s existence in the southern Indian state. The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) that met August 2-6 expressed grave concern over the dangerously low birth rate among Christians who once accounted for one fourth of the state’s population. […]

Report alleging ‘church for votes’ fuels tension in India

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are at loggerheads in the western Indian state of Gujarat, known as the original laboratory of Hindutva. Interestingly, the reason for the quarrel is a church, which has become a bone of contention between the ideological partners of the Hindutva project that seeks to define India in […]

Catholic bishop denies reports of conversions in India

The Catholic Church in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has dismissed reports of a government school being used for mass conversion activities as “false, malafide and intended to sow hatred and division in society.” The reports appeared in local print and electronic media last week, raising suspicions against the minority Christian community. “There is […]

Manipur journalist arrested for criticizing cow dung cure released

The Manipur High Court has ordered the release of a journalist detained under the National Security Act for a Facebook post criticizing the promotion of cow dung and urine as cure for Covid-19. The high court July 23 agreed with the contention of journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem’s wife that his case was the same as that […]

Indian Jesuits brace for fallout of US pull-out in Afghanistan

Indian Jesuits in Afghanistan are not sure what is in store for them as the strife-torn nation slips into conflict as the United States winds down operations after almost 20 years of war. “We will continue to accompany and give hope to the suffering people in whatever way is possible for us,” Father Jerome Sequeira, […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica