The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Women organized its Second National Resource Team Training Programme from March 9 to 11 at Nava Spoorthy Kendra in Bengaluru. The programme brought together 33 women leaders from five regions across India to strengthen leadership and promote safeguarding within the Church.

The three-day training focused on encouraging women’s active participation in Church life and promoting dignity and equality in communities. Participants attended sessions designed to help them support women’s leadership at parish and diocesan levels.

A major part of the programme discussed the Church’s Pastoral Plan 2033, which aims to increase the participation of women in the mission of the Church in India. Church leaders said the initiative has already gained momentum, with many dioceses across the country taking part in leadership formation programmes.

Participants also discussed important social issues such as gender equality, discrimination, stereotypes, and gender-based violence. Special sessions introduced them to India’s legal protections, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act (POSH). These sessions aimed to help participants promote safer and more respectful environments in Church institutions.

The programme also included daily Eucharistic celebrations and spiritual reflections that encouraged participants to reflect on justice, dignity, and the protection of vulnerable people.

Participants described the training as an important learning experience that helped them better understand their role in strengthening the Church. At the end of the programme, leaders encouraged participants to prepare action plans and share the training in their dioceses, helping build stronger women’s leadership across the Church in India.

Tensions between religious communities in Kopena village of Nabarangpur district in Odisha have led to the closure of a local church, leaving several Christian families afraid and unable to freely practise their faith.

The church, used by around 30 Christian families, was locked on January 25 after disagreements between the Christian community and the majority Hindu population in the village. Since then, Christian residents say they have faced threats and restrictions on their religious activities.

According to villagers, tensions increased on the day the church was closed. Two young Christian men, Jolander and John Santa, were reportedly beaten when they tried to record a video of the church being locked. The incident created fear among many families in the community.

Local authorities say they are aware of the dispute and have formed a peace committee to address the issue. Officials said the disagreement is mainly about the ownership of the land where the church stands, claiming that it belongs to the government.

However, the village pastor said the land was legally purchased in 2007 and that the church has been used for worship for many years.

The situation became more serious after the death of a 13-year-old Christian boy. His family said they were prevented from conducting the burial according to Christian rites in the village. The burial was later carried out on private land in the presence of police officials.

Christian groups say such incidents reflect growing hostility toward Christians in India. Meanwhile, Christian families in the village say they now gather and pray quietly in their homes, hoping the situation will improve.

The Supreme Court of India on March 11 allowed the withdrawal of life support from a man who has been in a vegetative state for more than ten years. The decision is being described as the first time the court has approved passive euthanasia for a specific individual case in the country.

The patient, Harish Rana, suffered severe head injuries after falling from a building in 2013. Since then, he has remained on life support with no signs of recovery. Doctors said he had almost no chance of regaining consciousness and was fully dependent on others for daily care.

Rana’s parents approached the court seeking permission to remove life support, saying they had tried all possible medical treatments without success. The court accepted their request after reviewing medical reports and legal guidelines.

India officially recognized passive euthanasia in 2018, allowing life support to be withdrawn under strict conditions so that death can occur naturally. However, active euthanasia, in which drugs are used to cause death, remains illegal in the country.

Some Christian leaders welcomed the court’s decision, saying it respected the dignity of human life. They noted that the family had taken every possible step to save the patient before making the request.

The debate about euthanasia in India began years earlier during the famous case of Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse who remained in a vegetative state for decades after a violent attack.

The issue continues to raise ethical and moral questions worldwide, as societies balance compassion for suffering patients with the belief in the sanctity of life.

In the frontier town of Akhnoor in the district of Jammu and Kashmir, a small Christian community continues to live with courage despite poverty and the tension of border conflicts. The town lies close to the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, where occasional firing and military activity often disturb daily life.

Around 130 Christian families live in small villages on the outskirts of Akhnoor. Many of them are third-generation Catholics whose ancestors accepted the Christian faith in the early 20th century when missionaries began working in the region. Most families work in low-paying jobs such as street sweeping or daily wage labor.

Despite these difficulties, many parents are determined to give their children a better future through education. One woman from the community works as a municipal street sweeper but dreams of seeing her son become a teacher. She says honest work gives dignity, and she hopes her child will achieve what she could not.

Border tensions also affect daily life. During shelling near the border, families often stay inside their homes and pray for safety. Yet they continue to hope for a better future.

The local Church plays an important role in supporting the community. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jammu–Srinagar runs social services, including a shelter home for abandoned women.

Education is another focus. St. Francis Higher Secondary School in Akhnoor provides quality education to many children, including those from poor Christian families.

Even in difficult conditions, the Christian community remains united in faith and continues to hope for a brighter future for the next generation.

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed an appeal challenging restrictions imposed by village councils in Chhattisgarh that bar the entry of Christian missionaries and converts into certain tribal areas.

On Feb. 16, the court declined to interfere with an October 2025 order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had directed the petitioner to seek remedy under the state’s Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules (PESA), governing tribal self-administration.

The case arose after hoardings were erected in several villages in Kanker district in July 2025, prohibiting the entry of pastors and Christians who had converted from other religions. Village councils said the move aimed to prevent alleged forced or induced conversions.

Petitioner Digbal Tandi, a Protestant Christian, argued that the restrictions violated constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and free movement. His counsel contended that adverse observations about missionary activity were made without evidence.

The Supreme Court, however, advised the petitioner to approach appropriate statutory authorities under the PESA framework.

Christian leaders and rights advocates expressed concern over the ruling, saying constitutional protections should not be curtailed without proof of wrongdoing. They noted that similar restrictions have reportedly spread to at least 19 villages in Chhattisgarh and surfaced in parts of Odisha and Jharkhand. According to the 2011 Census, Christians constitute about 2.3 percent of India’s population.

A group of Christian worshippers in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district is living in fear after a mob allegedly disrupted their Sunday prayer service and threatened them with violence.

Members of the Christian Evangelical Assembly were gathered at the home of Pastor Jagannath Naik in Badabali Chua village on Feb. 22 when around 50 people reportedly stormed the house armed with sticks. The attackers allegedly ordered the group to stop praying to Jesus, claiming their worship angered local deities.

According to the pastor, his wife and an elderly woman were assaulted, and he was beaten when he tried to record the incident. He said he was forced to delete the video. Although the group contacted police through the emergency helpline, they claim no officers arrived.

The following day, alleged members of the mob reportedly warned Christians individually against continuing their worship. Bishop Pallab Lima of the United Believers Council Network India said the situation remains tense, with some families considering leaving the village.

Church leaders noted that Mayurbhanj is a sensitive region, recalling the 1999 killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Odisha.

Data from the United Christian Forum recorded 40 incidents of harassment against Christians in Odisha in 2024. Christian leaders warn that even minor incidents in the region risk escalating into serious unrest.

The head of the Catholic Church in Chhattisgarh has expressed concern after the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea challenging restrictions on Christian missionaries and pastors entering certain tribal villages in the state.

On February 16, the apex court upheld a prior order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had declined to interfere with resolutions passed by some village councils allegedly barring the entry of pastors and tribal converts. The lower court observed that such measures were intended to prevent religious conversions through “inducement” or “manipulation” and to protect tribal culture and social harmony.

Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur said the ruling appeared discriminatory and raised concerns about constitutional guarantees, including freedom of movement and the right to propagate religion. He noted that the Supreme Court’s dismissal seemed partly procedural, as petitioners were asked to first exhaust statutory remedies by approaching local authorities.

The case involved billboards in several tribal villages stating that entry of pastors and priests was prohibited under local resolutions. Petitioners argued the restrictions amounted to segregation and discrimination against Christians.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted liberty to the petitioners to seek relief before the appropriate statutory authority.

India’s legal framework on religious conversion remains complex, with 10 states enforcing anti-conversion laws. Critics say such laws, which provide penalties for conversions deemed coercive or fraudulent, have sometimes been used to target religious minorities.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has condemned what it described as a “shameful act of racial abuse and harassment” against women from Northeast India in the national capital, calling such incidents a blot on the country’s cultural heritage.

In a statement issued on February 26, the bishops’ conference said repeated instances of racial discrimination in different parts of the country are unacceptable and urged authorities to ensure the safety and dignity of citizens from the Northeast.

The condemnation follows the arrest of a woman by Delhi Police in connection with alleged racial abuse and criminal intimidation of three women tenants from Arunachal Pradesh in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi. The tenants had reportedly been supervising electrical work in their rented flat when dust from drilling led to a dispute with neighbours. In their complaint, the women alleged verbal abuse, racial slurs, derogatory remarks, and threats.

The bishops appreciated the prompt police action and appealed to the Union and state governments to sensitize the public about the diverse cultures and traditions of Northeast India.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met the victims and assured strict action. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other northeastern leaders also demanded exemplary measures. The statement reiterated that every citizen has the right to live with dignity and called for unity and respect for diversity across the nation.

Students of a Catholic college in Kerala have named a newly discovered plant species after their former principal, Carmelite Father Joseph Paikada.

“Naming this plant after Father Paikada is a tribute to a teacher and principal who inspired students to study and love the natural world. The students themselves suggested the name, showing their deep respect and affection for him,” Carmelite Father Biju Joseph Chakkalayil, the current principal of Devagiri College in Kozhikode.

Tetrataenium paikadaeThe plant was discovered in the high-altitude grasslands of Idukki’s Iravikulam National Park by research students C. Rekha, M. K. Prashant, and T. P. Ashwindas under the guidance of their teacher K M Manudev.

The species has been named Tetrataenium paikadae. It belongs to the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots and celery.

The research finding has been published in the internationally recognized Nordic Journal of Botany. Supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, the study highlights the rich biodiversity of Kerala’s Western Ghats and the importance of conservation.

Father Chakkalayil said Paikada is remembered for his humility, guidance, and his love for students. The naming of the species ensures that his legacy continues to bloom in the highlands he inspired students to explore and cherish, he added.

Father Paikada died December 20, 2019, aged 83. He served as the principal and manager of Devagiri College for almost three decades. He played a key role in the institution’s development, acting as a teacher, warden, and spiritual guide.

He was also the chairman of the Consortium of the Autonomous Colleges of Keralam.

He founded Christ College in Poonch, a historic, strategic town and district in Jammu and Kashmir, in 1990.

Caritas India launched its Lenten Campaign 2026 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, reaffirming its commitment to combat inequality, promote inclusion, and address growing ecological distress.

The launch event witnessed the distribution of motorized wheelchairs to five persons with restricted mobility, supported by banks under their corporate social responsibility initiatives. Among the beneficiaries was a 32-year-old daily wage worker from East Delhi, paralyzed from the waist down, who described the wheelchair as a life-changing gift restoring his independence and dignity. He said the mobility support would now enable him to seek work opportunities and better provide for his family.

Caritas India Executive Director Father R. Jesudass said the distribution marked the culmination of last year’s Lenten campaign, Chetana (Awareness), which focused on supporting persons with disabilities and promoting their inclusion in society. He thanked donors and partners for their solidarity, calling it a visible expression of the Church’s commitment to dignity and justice.

The 2026 campaign poster was unveiled by Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto. This year’s theme addresses fractured relationships, deepening inequality, and escalating ecological challenges. The campaign encourages parishes to organize peace circles, families to practice weekly acts of solidarity, and institutions to adopt environmentally responsible practices.

Administrators noted that last year’s outreach impacted over 10,500 people nationwide, with continued advocacy and expanded initiatives planned for the year ahead.