National

INDIAN ACTIVISTS SEEK UNITY TO PROTECT MINORITY RIGHTS

Rights activists in India have called for more united and coordinated work to ensure the rights of religious minorities, tribal and Dalit people. Activists, lawyers and civil society met in New Delhi to honour Soni Sori, a tribal activist who was chosen by Ireland-based rights organization Front Line Defenders for an award this year. “Sori […]

MIZORAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WARNS AGAINST ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE

The largest Christian denomination of Mizoram – the Mizoram Presbyterian Church has issued an election statement warning political parties and candidates not to make tall promises that cannot be delivered. In the election decree which was issued last week, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church warned all political parties to field candidates who abide by the […]

POLICE IN INDIA LAY CHARGES AGAINST 270 CHRISTIAN ‘LIARS’

Police in India’s Uttar Pradesh State have charged more than 270 Christians with “spreading lies about Hinduism and drugging people to try and convert them to Christianity.” Christians in Jaunpur district said on Sept. 10 that the move showed religious bias and was an attempt to terrorize Christians. Police in the district filed the charges […]

BOMBAY ARCHDIOCESE WANTS BISHOP MULAKKAL TO STEP DOWN

Mumbai: The office of the Archbishop of Bombay has asked Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar to step down to help unfold an inquiry against him. It says the reputation of the Church, not just in Kerala but all over the country, is at stake and stepping down would be the right thing to do at […]

INDIAN BISHOP SEEKS FEDERAL HELP FOR FRAUGHT CHRISTIANS

Indian Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas has personally asked federal Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene over the mistreatment of Christians and their organizations in eastern Jharkhand State. Bishop Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Indian Bishops’ Conference, met Singh at his New Delhi office on September 3. The minister was briefed about difficulties being faced by […]

CHURCH PROJECT HELPS INDIAN VILLAGERS ENJOY DRINKING WATER

Despite being surrounded by water, Varghese Mollykutty used to row a boat four kilometres along a narrow canal to a public water source to fetch a few pots of drinkable water for her family. She and her husband and two children live on a tiny island village, Kuttanad, a unique marshy delta in India’s southern […]

FINDING SPIRITUAL COMMON GROUND BETWEEN INDIA’S RELIGIONS

“Recent events in India have damaged the country’s image as a vibrant, plural and successful democracy.” That is the opening line of former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran’s recent article in which he expresses his “growing concern over the rising polarisation and communalism of our social and political discourse.” Saran pointed out: “We pride ourselves in […]

CHURCH DONATES MOTHER MARY’S ORNAMENTS TO FLOOD RELIEF

The authorities of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church at Manjummel has decided to donate two gold ornaments used to adorn Mother Mary to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The necklaces weighing 25 sovereigns made using the gold offering by the devotees over 100 years. The necklaces used to adorn the statue of […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica