Thousands of Indian Christians have distanced themselves from their leaders who attended a Christmas lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing their silence over the ongoing anti-Christian violence in the country.
Over 3,000 Christians signed an online signature campaign, saying the Christian leaders, including Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai and several bishops from various Christian denominations, did not represent them at the gathering at Modi’s official residence.
The two-day virtual campaign, “Not in our name,” was started on Jan. 1 by Jesuit Fathers Cedric Prakash and Prakash Louis, and lay Catholic leader John Dayal.
Christian leaders say in 2023 India recorded some 650 cases of violence against Christians. Since Modi came to power in 2014, violence against Muslims and Christians has increased, they argue.
Sporadic violence continues in the northeastern state of Manipur, where more than 200 tribal Christians died and over 50,000 people were displaced in the sectarian flare-up after it started in May 2023.
Rights groups blame pro-Hindu groups that support Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the violence against Christian and Muslim religious minorities.
Modi, who seeks a third consecutive term in this year’s parliamentary polls, has never condemned the atrocities against minorities nor has he visited strife-torn Manipur, where a Christian woman was gang-raped and paraded naked in July last year.

India’s most senior Catholic cardinal and a close advisor to Pope Francis has said the Fiducia Supplicans, a controversial new Vatican text approving non-liturgical blessings for same-sex unions, is a “natural” for his country, calling it “an affirmation of our spirituality and a gift.”
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai told Crux that in Indian culture, asking for and giving blessings is a widely accepted custom.
“I once met the Prime Minister, and he asked for prayers. I assured him of our prayers and our blessings,” Gracias said.
“Our Indian mentality is so inclusive, understanding people of other religions and other faiths,” Gracias said. “All are searching for God, all are searching for the truth, all are searching for spirituality.”
To the extent there’s controversy over Fiducia Supplicans in India, Gracias said, it’s because it’s been misunderstood.
“There is no change at all in the Church doctrine of a marriage between a man and a woman. The tradition of the Church, the magisterium is very clear and there is no contradiction at all,” he said.
“The blessing is like when a person is going on a journey, when they have come on a pilgrimage, they want a blessing asking God to be with them,” Gracias said. “Everybody has a right to God’s love and God’s compassion, calling the teaching on blessings in the document a “natural consequence” of this principle.
Gracias also said that Fiducia Supplicans is consistent with his own pastoral practice with the LGBTQ+ community.
“In the past I have said this and I want to say it again, they are part of our family, they need our pastoral care. I have met them when they have come to me sometimes privately in my office.”
“Jesus never refused a blessing … that’s the idea,” he said.
As a concrete example, in October 2018 the late Indian fashion designer Wendell Rodricks met Gracias. Rodricks also headed a group called the “Global Network of Rainbow Catholics,” which worked on the pastoral care of LGBTQ+ Catholics. The purpose of the meeting was for Rodricks to ask Gracias’s blessing on a plan to open a hotline for the LGBTQ+ community, in part to being them closer to the Church.
In a social media post after the meeting, Rodricks described his deep emotion when Gracias responded positively.

Church groups in India on December 20 expressed joy after a court granted bail to a priest and three Catholics in judicial custody for nearly three months for allegedly violating an anti-conversion law.
The Allahabad High Court, the top court of Uttar Pradesh in northern India, granted bail to Father Babu Francis, the director of social work in Allahabad diocese and others on December 18.
“With God’s grace and your prayers Fr. Babu Francis has been granted bail. We received the bail order at 5:10 pm today. He will come out very soon along with others. Let’s thank God for His great gift for Christmas 2023,” said a message from Bishop Louis Mascarenhas of Allahabad addressed to his people.
The prelate urged the priests, nuns and Brothers in the diocese to offer a thanksgiving Mass on December 21.
While thanking his people for their “constant prayers and support during this difficult time,” the bishop pointed out that “their innocent suffering will not go in vain, it will strengthen the Church and faith to work for the Lord.”

The head of the Catholic Church in India on Christmas eve called for prayers for war-torn regions of the world, including Manipur in the country.
“In the spirit of Christmas, I earnestly request your prayers for those in violence-affected and war-torn regions of our world, including the state of Manipur in our beloved country, and the conflict zones of Israel-Palestine war, and Ukraine,” says the Christmas message from Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
Ethnic violence has raged in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur since May 3, rendering thousands homeless.
The prelate wants the “collective prayers” to become a beacon of hope and healing for those enduring the harsh realities of conflict.
“As we celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas and welcome the dawn of the New Year, I, along with all the Catholic bishops in India, extend heartfelt greetings to each one of you. May this season be filled with the love, peace, and joy that the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ brings into our lives.”
Archbishop Thazhath prays for the coming year to “witness a transformation, where peace triumphs over discord, and compassion reigns over cruelty, fostering understanding and harmony in the troubled areas of Manipur and bringing solace to the people of Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.”
The Indian Church leader wants those celebrating the festival to pause to reflect on Christmas’ true essence. “It is not merely about Santa Claus and Christmas trees adorned with glittering ornaments. Christmas is, above all, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior, whose life embodies the principles of love, justice, and compassion.”

“We are approaching Christmas” and “traditionally we look forward to this great celebration”, but “this year several parishes in our archdiocese will not be able to carry out Christmas liturgies or gather families and loved ones as happened in the past due to ethnic violence.” For this reason the Church invites us to “refrain from grandiose festive celebrations”.
With these words the archbishop of Imphal, Msgr. Linus Neli, addresses the Christians of the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur in his Christmas letter. The clashes broke out in May and involved the main tribal groups in the region, the Kuki and the Meitei. Despite a decline in violence, the situation continues to remain tense.
“God adds joy to our hearts by gathering the human family around his Son regardless of race, tribe, language, culture, status, gender or community. We are all one in humanity”, underlined the archbishop.
But around the world there are different situations in which Christmas celebrations are interrupted due to violence: “The same difficulty prevails in many parts of the world due to wars and conflicts. Many suffer from stress and anxiety while staying in shelters for an extended period of time.”

A senior Indian cardinal has welcomed a new state administration led by a party which represents the main rival to the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP party, and which came to power in part on the basis on promises to respect minority rights.
Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad congratulated A. Revanth Reddy of the Congress Party, who led his coalition to victory in Telangana state in the south-central region of India on Nov. 30 and who recently took office as the state’s Chief Minister.
“Revanth Reddy’s ascension to this significant responsibility reflects the trust and confidence vested in his leadership capabilities by the people of our vibrant state,” said Poola, who also leads the Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Council (TCBC).
“Revanth Reddy embarks on a new journey. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Telangana will continue to prosper and flourish, reaching new heights of development and inclusivity,” said Poola, the first cardinal from India’s traditionally marginalized Dalit community.
“The Archdiocese of Hyderabad and the TCBC are eager to collaborate and support Revanth Reddy’s vision for a harmonious, progressive and equitable Telangana state,” he said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to contributing to the welfare and upliftment of our communities, working hand in hand with the new government for the greater good of all citizens.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the nation “proudly acknowledges the contribution of the Christian Community.”
The prime minister said this while interacting with leaders of Christian community on the occasion of Christmas on December 25 at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, the official residence of the Prime Minister of India.
The prime minister praised Christian contributions to the freedom movement and highlighted the various intellectual thinkers and leaders. He underlined that Gandhiji himself had said that the Non-Cooperation Movement was conceived under the patronage of Sushil Kumar Rudra, principal of St. Stephen’s College.
Modi, who is completing 10 years as the Indian prime minister, highlighted the crucial role played by the Christian community in giving direction to society and mentioned active participation in social service towards the poor and the deprived.
He also noted their contributions in important areas of education and healthcare.
Wishing everyone, especially people of the Christian community a Merry Christmas, the prime minister thanked everyone present for joining him on this very special and sacred occasion. He expressed delight in accepting the Indian Minority Foundation’s proposal to celebrate Christmas together and thanked them for the initiative, says a press release from the Press Information Bureau of the government of India.
Throwing light on his relations with the Christian community for a long time, the prime minister recalled holding frequent meetings with the Christian community and their leaders when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. He also recalled his interaction with Pope Francis Pope on October 30, 2021, as a memorable moment.
He said the two leaders discussed issues such as social harmony, global brotherhood, climate change and inclusive development to make earth a better place.
Noting that Christmas is not just the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but also to remember his life, message and values, the 73-year-old Indian leader underlined the values of compassion and service that Jesus lived by.
He said Jesus worked to create an inclusive society where justice prevails for all and it is these values that are illuminating the way like a guiding light in the development journey of India.

Putting an end to speculations and rumors over the Vatican ambassador’s sudden and brief visit to the Kochi airport, the Syro-Malabar Church on December 7 announced that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of its major archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry.
The Pope has also accepted the resignation of Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur from the post of apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, it was announced at a press conference held at St.Thomas Mount, the headquarters of the Oriental Church at Kakkanad, a suburb of Kochi, Kerala.
The press conference at 4:30 pm was addressed by Cardinal Alencherry and Curia Bishop Sebastian Vaniyapurackal.
It was also announced that until a new major archbishop is elected at the next Synod meeting in January, Bishop Vaniyapurackal will function as the administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Bishop Emeritus Bosco Puthur of Melbourne has been appointed the temporary administrator of the archdiocese of Ernakulam
At the press conference, the cardinal thanked the Pope for accepting his resignation.
The two resignations took place two days after Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli gave Cardinal Alencherry two letters from the Pope at the Kochi airport lounge.
The Pope’s letter in Latin accepting the resignations noted Cardinal Alencherry’s zeal and generosity in the past 12 years to help the Oriental Church achieve various important milestones. The Pope also noted that Cardinal Alencherry had last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination and 25th anniversary as a bishop.

The apex body of Christian denominations in the Telugu speaking states has congratulated the new government of Telangana state.
The Federation of Telugu Churches (FTC) and its state wing, the Telangana State Fe-deration of Churches (TSFC) also expressed happiness over the A. Revanth Redd government.
“The Christian Community in Telangana state has been ma-king efforts to usher in a government that upholds the values of secularism, democracy, concern for the poor and the marginalised, and the welfare of the Christian Community,” said the federation’s December 8 statement.
It expressed the hope that the new government will honor all the promises it has made to the minorities and in particular to the Christian Community. The Congress party that formed the government had promised to provide adequate representation to the Christian community in the government at different le-vels, including the state Cabinet.
The new government headed by Anumula Revanth Reddy took oath as the chief minister of Telangana on December 7.
Among those present at the ceremony were Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, Church of South India Bi-shop K. Padma Rao of Dornakal and Methodist Bishop M.A. Daniel and Free Methodist Church Bishop John Gollapalli.
Ahead of the state election on November 30, the Christian groups had presented to political parties 20 demands, including separate parliamentary and legislative seats, land for cemeteries and scholarships.
The Telangana State Federation of Churches, Telangana Council of Churches and Synod of Telangana, representing the entire Christian community in the state, had met in the state capital of Hyderabad early October and decided to ask the parties to include their demands in their manifestos.
The community wanted political parties to give two tickets to Christians for the assembly election and two Member of Legislative Council seats.

Liturgy is the source and summit of Christian life. It is a nursery of Christian life wherein one learns the basic principles and understands the importance of celebrating one’s life.
It is in the liturgy that one can experience the Love of Christ and rediscover oneself. Sadly, the focus of the current strife among the Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Catholic Church, the Syro-Malabar Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, is the priest’s orientation (Facing the Altar or Facing the Congregation) during various sections of the Holy Qur-bana (Eucharistic celebration).
Uniform rubrics were released in 1999 by the Synod of Bi-shops of the Syro-Malabar Church to standardize Eucharistic celebrations. The choice was made to have the priest face the altar throughout the Eucharistic Prayer, but turn to face the people after Communion and during the Liturgy of the Word. Dispensations, on the other hand, were given in a few dioceses, such as the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, enabling priests to face the congregation the whole liturgy.
When the bishops planned to terminate these dispensations in November 2021, the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency, a group inside the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, protested and showed resistance.