The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) on September 10 launched a set of 115 textbooks for schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education. CCBI president Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, unveiled the textbooks at an event held at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru.Present on the occasion were 40 bishops, including Cardinals Oswald Gracias and Anthony Poola, attending the CCBI Executive Committee meeting, along with educationists, major superiors, secretaries of the CCBI Commissions, and other dignitaries. “Education is a primary mission of the Church in India. With numerous schools across the country, we are committed to providing quality education to future generations. This new series of textbooks will further strengthen our education,” said Cardinal Ferrão. Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, congratulated those involved in publishing the textbook series for Catholic schools. Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore stressed the church’s responsibility in shaping future citizens who uphold both human and constitutional values. He also referred to the CCBI’s value education textbooks, launched in 2022, as an essential tool in this mission. The textbooks were published by Arclight Global, the CCBI’s publishing arm, established in 2022.The launch marks a significant step forward in the Church’s efforts to enhance educational resources in its schools across India, says Father Alathara.

Police in a northern Indian state have booked two people for allegedly trying to sell off a more than a century-old Protestant church by posing as its office bearers. Police said Jordan Masih and Mary Wilson were arrested after they tried to sell the 129-year-old Golaknath Memorial Church in Punjab state’s Jalandhar city, posing as the treasurer and member of the church.Sanwar Bhatti, president of the United Church of Northern India Trust Association, which claims to hold a power of attorney for the church, told UCA News on Sept. 10 that they learnt about the fraud last week and complained to the police. Jalandhar police said the duo struck a deal with a prospective buyer and collected a token amount of 500,000 rupees (some $5,000) in June. “The duo is absconding, and police are trying to trace them,” Bhatti said. Pastor Nanook Bhatti, a Jalandhar-based Christian leader, told UCA News that media reports of the incident have shocked the local Christian community. “It is a very unfortunate thing to happen. But it is also a lesson to all Christians that they must be very alert about their church properties,” he said. Church sources said the church, located in the Mission Compound in Jalandhar city, is spread over 0.5 hectares of land and is valued at 1.5 billion Indian rupees (some US$19 million). The church also has historic significance as it is named after Golaknath Chatterjee, a Bengali Hindu convert to Christianity who renounced his home and became the first Indian missionary in the Punjab around 1830. Before him, the region was served by foreign missionaries. Pastor Amit Prakash, secretary of the Chandigarh diocese of the Church of North India (CNI), thanked the police for timely action as Masih was trying to register the deal at the land records office. Jordan Masih “is not a member of the CNI Church. He has a history of fraudulently selling church properties,” Prakash said. He said several people, like Masih, are targeting the properties owned by the CNI. “They pretend to be members and try to forge documents to make fraudulent deals,” the pastor added. Punjab is a Sikh-majority state where the rate of conversion to Christianity has been on the rise in recent decades, causing concern among the state’s Sikhs. Sikh preachers allege that Christians now constitute 10 percent of the northern state’s 28 million people.

The Synod of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church, gathered at Mount St. Thomas, Kerala, having received prior papal assent according to CCEO can. 184, canonically elected to the office of Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Changanacherry, Mar Thomas Tharayil (52), until present Auxiliary of the Archeparchy of Changanacherry, and Mar Prince Antony Panengadan (48), until present Bishop of the Eparchy of Adilabad. Both elections were made public on August 30, 2024. Archbishop Thomas Tharayil was born on February 2, 1972, in Changnacherry. He was ordained a priest on January 1, 2000, after completing his theological studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor. He holds a doctorate in psychology from the Gregorian University in Rome and has served as Director of Danahalaya, an Institute of Formation in Alappuzha. Known for his expertise in psychology and as a retreat preacher, he was ordained as a bishop on April 23, 2017, and now assumes the role of Archbishop of Changanacherry.Bishop Prince Antony Panengadan was born on March 13, 1976, in Arimpur, Archdiocese of Trichur. He was ordained a priest on April 25, 2007, after completing his theological studies at Ruhalay Seminary, Ujjain. He later obtained a Doctorate in Biblical Theology from Urbaniana University, Rome. Bishop Panengadan has served as Assistant Parish Priest and priest-in-charge of mission stations in the Eparchy of Adilabad. He was ordained a bishop on October 29, 2015, and is now appointed as the Bishop of the Eparchy of Shamshabad.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has launched its new National Pastoral Plan, titled “Journeying towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033.” The plan was officially released by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the CCBI, during a meeting at St. John’s National Institute of Health Sciences, Bangalore, on September 11, 2024. The event saw the presence of 40 bishops, along with 27 secretaries of CCBI Commissions and regional deputy secretaries from 14 regions of the CCBI. This initiative follows a year-long process involving over 5,000 members of the Latin Catholic Church in India, including bishops, clergy, religious leaders, men, women and youth. The focus is on answering a crucial question: “Where is God calling the Church to be by 2033?” “It is the fruit of conversations in the Spirit,” Cardinal Ferrão said. He emphasized that the plan is a collective project and called on every individual to contribute to its realization at parish, diocesan, regional and national levels. A committee, led by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi, has been formed to oversee the implementation of the plan, which will be rolled out through the Commissions, Departments and Apostolates of the CCBI at the national, regional and diocesan levels.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), has urged people working for the conference to serve the Church with joy and dedication. The cardinal was addressing the staff of various CCBI secretariats on September 9 at Paalanaa Bhavana in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, a press release issued by conference deputy secretary general Father Stephen Alathara.In his address, Cardinal Ferrão reminded the clergy, the religious, and the laity that a joyful heart is essential in carrying out their mission within the Church. He encouraged them to draw strength and inspiration through prayer and family life. He also urged them to reflect the love of Christ in all aspects of their service. He thanked them for their dedication.The program was attended by more than 52 staff members, including priests, religious, and laity, representing various offices such as the CCBI general secretariat, Pontifical Mission Organisations, Catholic Connect and Arclight Global.The CCBI’s Catholic Connect mobile app, launched in January, offers access to a wide range of spiritual resources, relevant news, and practical services, including health insurance, education, job opportunities and emergency assistance. Arclight Global, the publishing arm of the CCBI in collaboration with Asian Trade Cooperation, produces value education books and school textbooks.

A top court has asked a Protestant diocese in southern India to appoint teachers irrespective of their caste, religious, and denominational backgrounds since their salaries are paid from the state exchequer.
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu state declared unconstitutional a list of prospective teachers prepared by the Tirunelveli diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) for appointment in schools managed by the diocese. The court said the list violated the principles of secularism. “When the salary is paid out of the state exchequer, the elementary principles of secularism demand that the appointment process is thrown open to all eligible candidates,” said Justice G R Swaminathan in his Aug. 8 order. A copy of the order was released to the media two days ago. “The appointment process as of today is patently discriminatory. To say that only a candidate of a particular religious denomination is entitled to apply for a post runs counter to constitutional morality,” said Swaminathan. The order came during the hearing of a petition filed by C Manohar Thangaraj, the treasurer of Tirunelveli Diocese. The petition accused the bishop of making unilateral appointments based on the diocesan priority list rather than inviting applications from eligible candidates. The court also stressed the need for transparency in the selection process, saying, ” Of course, all this can come to naught if the recruitment process is rigged and predetermined.” India’s constitution allows minority groups like Christians and Muslims to run educational institutions. The respective state governments pay the salaries for teachers in aided schools.
The Church in India runs more than 50,000 educational institutions, including schools and 400 colleges, six universities, and six medical schools. Catholic Church officials called the court order “a matter of concern.” A minority-run education institution has the right to appoint its staff from “the respective community on a priority basis,” noted Father Thankachan Jose, former national president of the All-India Association of Catholic Schools. Thankachan told UCA News on Aug. 26 that a minority education is bound to give priority to the community. “Provided there is no qualified or skilled candidate within, we may seek to appoint a candidate from outside,” the priest said. But “priority is given to a candidate from the community.” Father Maria Charles, secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of Indian office for education, said Catholic schools do not restrict jobs only to Catholics or Christians. He told UCA News they “will take a call after consulting with our legal team.”

A delegation of Christian leaders has urged the governor of a northern Indian state to repeal a proposed law saying it can be misused to target religious mino-rities under the pretext of preventing fraudulent conversions. The Uttar Pradesh state government passed the bill restricting religious conversions on July 30. The northern state is ruled by the right-wing Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The United Christian Forum (UCF) delegation, in its Aug. 19 memorandum to Governor Anandiben Patel, pointed to “the broad and ambiguous language” in the proposed law, adding that it may “embolden individuals and groups to target religious minorities.” The governor is the consti-tutional head of the state who functions on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. To be-come a law, every bill passed by the state legislature must receive the governor’s assent. The eight-member UCF delegation said that the terms used in the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, like “force, fraud, and allurement,” are un-defined and vague. “For instance, any collective gathering of Chri-stians is demonized and portrayed as an attempt to allure people to Christianity,” it said. The memo-randum stressed that existing laws, such as the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conver-sion of Religion Act, 2021, as well as criminal and civil laws, already address the issue of con-versions by fraud, coercion, or force. The new Bill imposes dis-proportionately severe penalties, such as the provision of 20 years or life imprisonment if convicted for religious conversion. Earlier, the maximum punishment pro-vided for was 10 years.
All this results “in undue violation of the right to life and liberty,” it stated. The new Bill also permits any third person to register a first information report when the existing law requires that the victim or blood relatives give information or file a complaint in a conversion case.
The memorandum said researchers have documented how anti-conversion laws have been weaponized to target religious minorities, including Christians. Vigilante mobs, often supported by local police officials, brutalize Christians for holding house prayer meetings, leading to the registration of false cases, which linger for many years and result in growing harassment and legal costs.
The new provision allowing “any person” to complain “widens the door to accusations driven by personal, political, or communal biases, leading to a wave of violence and harassment against these [minority] communities,” the memorandum stated. UCF national convener A C Michael said the delegation urged the governor to “suspend” the new Bill in its current form. The Christian lay leader told UCA News that in its memorandum, the UCF recommended that the Uttar Pradesh government focus on initiatives that strengthen harmony and promote tolerance among different religious groups rather than causing tensions through punitive legislation. It further suggested public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about their constitutional rights and the importance of respecting diversity. It was also suggested that police personnel and judicial officers be trained to safeguard religious freedoms, handle complaints ethically, and conduct unbiased investigations. The UCF also urged setting up support systems for innocent people who are wrongfully accused and jailed in the form of psychological counseling and legal assistance to deal with the trauma and financial impact of such illegal actions.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has awarded Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop emeritus of Karachi who was born in India’s Amritsar, on the country’s 78th Independence Day. The 79-year-old cardinal is among 104 people awarded for their contributions to the nation. Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on August 14, a day before India’s Independence Day. The award “Tamgha-i-Imtiaz” (medal of excellence) is given to any civilian in Pakistan in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the nation. Cardinal Coutts has been recognized for his efforts in fostering dialogue among various religious communities and promoting social welfare and minority rights. His initiatives have focused on improving healthcare, education, and community well-being across Pakistan. In his remarks, President Zardari commended Cardinal Coutts’ contributions to interfaith harmony. “His service to humanity and his role in bringing different faiths together is an inspiration for all Pakistanis,” President Zardari said, highlighting the cardinal’s impact on peace and prosperity in the nation. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 23, 2025.
Cardinal Coutts served as the archbishop of Karachi from 2012 to 2021. Earlier, he served as the bishop of Faisalabad from 1998 to 2012. Pope Francis created Coutts a cardinal on June 28, 2018. He was born in Amritsar, British India, now in India’s Punjab state, on July 21, 1945 in a Goan family. His father Pedro Jose Couto was from Aldona, a village in north Goa. Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto of Delhi is his first cousin.
He received his seminary training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and was ordained a priest in Lahore, Pakistan, on January 9, 1971. After ordination, he completed ecclesiastical studies in Rome from 1973 to 1976 and then became professor of philosophy and sociology at Christ the King Regional Seminary, Karachi, rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Lahore, and diocesan vicar general from 1986 to 1988. On May 5, 1988, he was appointed coadjutor bishop of Hyderabad in Pakistan by Pope John Paul II and consecrated a bishop on September 16 that year. He became bishop of Hyderabad on September 1, 1990 and on June 27, 1998, he was appointed the bishop of Faisalabad. In Faisalabad he developed ties with Muslim scholars and clerics. The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany, awarded Bishop Coutts the 2007 Shalom Prize for his commitment to interfaith dialogue in Pakistan. The award is given to people and projects working for human rights. On January 25, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the Karachi archbishop to succeed Archbishop Evarist Pinto. In both Faisalabad and Karachi, he has campaigned against Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which he believes is too easily manipulated for personal attacks or to target religious minorities for insubstantial or pretended offenses. In Karachi he has established multiple connections for inter-religious dialogue between Muslims and Catholics, aiming at both acceptance by the general population and increased understanding on the part of political and religious leaders. He was president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference from 2011 to 2017. He became a cardinal on June 28, 2018. He became the country’s second cardinal after Joseph Cordeiro, who was also of Goan origin. He is a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on February 11, 2021.

Indian bishops and laity groups have joined Catholics around the globe to deplore the parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting of the Last Supper at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. “The Last Supper is not merely a piece of art but a profound symbol of the Holy Eucharist, established by Jesus Christ himself,” said a press statement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). The July 29 statement signed by CBCI’s public relations officer Father Robinson Rodrigues said the Olympic games which symbolize unity and respect among diverse cultures and faiths, should uphold the highest standards of sensitivity towards all religious beliefs. “Christ’s Last Supper event unites Christians worldwide, and its disrespect can never be perceived as a celebration of community tolerance as mentioned by the Olympics organizers,” it added. The apex body of the Catholic Church in India urged all concerned to reflect on the importance of mutual respect and understanding in fostering true global harmony. The CBCI also called upon the International Olympic Committee “to ensure that such instances of disrespect towards religious sentiments are not repeated.” A drag performance during the July 26 opening ceremony in Paris depicted a scene based on a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic wall painting in Milan’s Dominican convent, causing outrage among Christians across the world. Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay said, “The Last Supper is a sacred event, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s final meal with his disciples, and is of immense significance to Christianity.” “The parody of this profound moment watched by millions is not only deeply offensive but also a blatant display of insensitivity towards the religious sentiments of believers worldwide,” he said in a statement. The cardinal stressed the need for respect towards religious beliefs in artistic expressions, particularly at globally significant events like the Olympics. “The organizers of the Olympics need to address this grave incident with the seriousness it warrants, the current apology issued by the Olympic committee is extremely condescending and a poor attempt to appease everyone,” he said.

Church leaders have criticized fringe elements in India’s ruling pro-Hindu party for giving a “communal colour” to the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebrations in the country, which has the second-largest tribal population in the world. The day was celebrated in different parts of the country on Aug. 9. However, the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (all India tribal welfare body), alleged that “external forces and Christian missionaries in India are hatching up a large-scale conspiracy to divide society in the name of the celebration.” The organization is affiliated with the ultranationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is considered the mother organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Its president Satyendra Singh said on Aug. 8 that the celebration was meant for other countries like America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada” and had no relevance for India. “All people of our country are indigenous to this land, and we are now free from the clutches of colonial forces,” Singh said. Observing the international day whose theme this year is ‘Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact’ has nothing to do with any religion, said Father Vincent Ekka. “Blaming Christian missionaries of a conspiracy is misleading,” the Jesuit priest told . Ekka, who heads the tribal studies department in the Church-run Indian Social Institute in the national capital New Delhi, said Hindu groups are afraid that the tribal people may become aware of their rights “and may revolt.” The RSS has been campaigning against Christian missionary activities among tribal people and their conversion to Christianity. Its affiliate organizations run a nationwide campaign called Ghar Wapsi (homecoming) to convert tribal people and Dalits or former untouchables and bring them into the Hindu religion. “Blaming Christian missionaries is purely a political agenda [for them], said Ekka who belongs to the Oraon tribal community in the central state of Chhattisgarh. The Jesuit appealed to fellow tribal people not to fall prey to the “false campaign.” India’s tribal people make up 8.6 percent of its 1.4 billion people, according to the last Census conducted in 2011. The RSS and its fringe elements always come up with “new ideas to attack Christian missionaries,” said Ratan Tirkey, a former member of the tribal advisory committee in eastern Jharkhand state, which has a large tribal population. “Will they recognize the contributions made by Christian missionaries” for the welfare of the tribal people, the Catholic lay leader asked.