National

Youth in India gather for ‘Synodgy’ as a sign of solidarity with bishops in Rome

A group of young people gathered in Mumbai on October 7 to celebrate Synodgy 2018, an event to help the young people of India participate spiritually in the Synod of Bishops meeting on the youth taking place this month in Rome. “Synodgy is celebrating this Universal event on the home ground,” said Cardinal Oswald Gracias, […]

Pope following Franco Mulakkal case : Cardinal Gracias

Archbishop of Bombay Oswald Cardinal Gracias has said that Pope Francis is closely following the developments in the case of Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal who has been arrested for allegedly raping a nun multiple times over two years. Cardinal Gracias, who is the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) issued the […]

An Indian anti-Christian hotspot

Christians in a tiny northern Indian district suffered at least 12 attacks in September that community leaders say were instigated by false accusations against missionaries over the conversion of Hindus. Pastors were beaten up, faithful arrested and on Sept. 30 services disrupted in continuing violence allegedly carried out by Hindu groups in Jaunpur district of Uttar […]

Women theologians rally behind “nun who dared to complain”

The Indian Women Theologians Forum (IWTF) has expressed solidarity with a nun who dared to complain against a bishop who allegedly had abused sexually for over a period of two years. “We are pained that her appeals for justice in the Church were met with silence,” the forum said in a press release on […]

12 EPISODES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN A MONTH IN UTTAR PRADESH

Aggression and violence against Christians have been registered in recent weeks in Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India. This is what A.C. Michael, human rights activist, Christian and former member of the Indian Government’s minority commission says in an interview with Agenzia Fides. Michael states that the attacks are perpetrated by Hindu fundamentalist groups, […]

INDIA’S TOP COURT PRESSURES BJP TO REIN IN MOB VIOLENCE

India’s Supreme Court has asked federal and state governments to comply with its two- month-old instructions to end mob violence and lynching, which activists say shows the government’s failure to check hard-line Hindu violence. The country’s top court on Sept. 24 asked all state governments to file action reports on its July 17 directions for […]

FEAR, MISTRUST SURGES AMONG INDIANS: CATHOLIC PRIEST

The climate of fear and mistrust among people, cultures and religious communities across India is alarming, an Indian told at an International gathering in Rome, Italy. Trends such as “populism” and “Hindu nationalism” drastically sweeping the country can pose great dangers and threats for society at large, said Father Charles Irudayam, former secretary, Office for […]

MISSIONARIES OF JESUS NUNS FAST FOR JAILED BISHOP PATRON

The Missionaries of Jesus congregation is on a fast on September 26 for their patron, who is now in police custody in a sexual abuse case. The congregation is in “deep sorrow and anguish” that “our innocent father Bishop Franco Mulakkal had to face arrest and jail for a crime he has not committed,” says […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica