National

Kerala government lifts ban on religious services in jails

The Kerala government has allowed Church groups and NGOs to resume religious and counseling services for prisoners in the jails of the southern Indian state. The government revoked the March 31 order of Kerala Jail Director General of Police Bal-ram Kumar Upadhyay banning these groups from prisons following a meeting of Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis, […]

Mizoram’s new bishop to unite Barak Valley’s ethnic groups

The newly appointed bishop of Mizoram says his main priority is to bring Barak Valley’s diverse ethnic communities together through focused pastoral care and help them work together overcoming all their challenges. “I will visit every parish and in the Barrak Valley and work for peace and harmony among the people,” Bishop-elect Joachim Walder told […]

Government asked to frame menstrual guidelines for schools

The Supreme Court of India has asked the federal government to formulate a national model for all states and Union Territories for managing menstrual hygiene for girls in schools. The apex court on April 10 also termed the issue as of “immense importance” and urged the government to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). A bench […]

Indian Christians differ with cardinal on persecution

Christian leaders in India have refuted Kerala-based Cardinal George Alencherry’s claim that Christians do not feel insecure under the rule of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the country. “Persecution against Christians has drastically increased ever since BJP came to power in the country,” said A.C. Michael, president of the Federation of Catholic Associations […]

Summit highlights women’s role in Northeast India

A two-day summit of delegates from 15 dioceses of northeastern India stressed the important roles women play in society. “It is time that we stressed the equal importance of women in society, family and in the Church,” said Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, the president of North East India Regional Bishops’ Council, said at the […]

Camillian nuns bring hope, community to girls with HIV

Maria was 9 and a fourth grader in a convent school when she tested positive for HIV. She had lost her mother when she was just 3; her father, also an HIV patient, died last month in February. Maria (name changed) recalled her father and the hostel warden bringing her 17 years ago to Jeevadaan […]

Kanpur Christians meet police commissioner on conversion arrests

A delegation of Christians of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on March 21 met city Police Commissioner P. Jogdand regarding a spate of accusations and arrests for alleged forcible conversions. The UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversions of Religion Act 2021 aims to stop conversion through allurement, coercion, force or fraudulent means. The law was implemented with […]

Kerala archbishop’s assurance to BJP irks Christians

Catholics across India have reacted angrily to an archbishop in Kerala, who has offered condi-tional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that heads the federal coalition government. Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry on March 18 assur-ed the BJP at least one seat from the southern Indian state if the federal government raises the price […]

Salesians elect Maltese priest Fabio Attard as Don Bosco’s 11th successor

Pope Francis does not accept Cardinal Koch’s resignation: could continue at least until anniversary of Council of Nicea